Passport (Fees) Regulations 2018 Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for International Development
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
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Passport (Fees) Regulations 2018
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts(6 years, 1 month ago)
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Baroness Williams of Trafford
That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 29 January be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 15 March.
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
I am speaking on the regulations. There is a story going around, which I am absolutely sure must be fake news, that the proposed iconic blue passport is going to be produced in France. Will the Minister confirm whether that is true or not, because, if it is true, it must be a great embarrassment for Her Majesty’s Government?
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams of Trafford) (Con)
My Lords, any questions about this issue should have been raised in Committee. The question that the noble Lord asks has nothing to do with the regulations.
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
What is the answer to the question? This is an opportunity to raise it. Surely the Minister must know what the position is.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
My Lords, this is not an opportunity for noble Lords to stand up and ask random questions.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
My Lords, as noble Lords will know, when things are discussed in this House is entirely a matter for Members.
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
My Lords, this matter was not known last Thursday; it has only become public recently. For once, I actually agree with the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth. The Government of France insist that French passports are produced only in France for reasons of security. If we are, sadly, going to have to leave the European Union, and I hope that we are not, and if we are going to have these iconic blue passports—well, the last one I had was more black than blue, to be honest—then they ought to be produced in Britain, in Gateshead or somewhere else. Why is that not the case? The Minister must answer this.