Passport system must improve so UK firms can fulfil export potential

16th September 2014

Commenting on the House of Commons report on the Passport Office entitled Delays in Processing Applications which has been published today, Sukhdeep Dhillon, Global Economic Adviser at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: -It is unacceptable that 17 out of 20 passport applications overseas have been delayed since April this year, as this is preventing UK business people from securing international trade deals.

Only a very small proportion of applications just over one in ten have been processed within the government's three week target. Every application should take no longer than a maximum of three weeks so that Britain's exporters are not losing out to international competitors. -The report also states that the Home Office has not been 'resilient' to business needs. It is crucial that the Home Office becomes more pro-business and seeks to reduce bureaucracy and cost implications for UK firms. -In our Business Manifesto published last week, the BCC called on the government to extend the fast-track passport issuance scheme so that it applies to UK business people in overseas markets, not just those here at home. Unless the government adopts a passport system that supports business and economic needs, the UK will trail behind other G7 economies when it comes to seizing important business opportunities overseas.