6 Conclusion
55. The Newport Passport Office is the only passport
office serving the people of Wales. We are concerned that its
significance to Wales and its value to the Welsh economy has not
been truly appreciated by the Government. The Government should
take this into account when deciding the future of the IPS in
Newport. The Government must publish an economic impact assessment
of the proposed closure and consider its findings before a final
decision is made.
56. We are not convinced by the Government's
argument that long-term savings will be made by reducing the size
of the Newport Office. The Office has been responsible for successful
innovative programmes and has a cadre of skilled and experienced
staff. The rationale behind the closure is based on short-term
savings without a proper examination of the long-term advantages
of consolidating its services in Newport. The Identity and Passport
Service should provide a detailed appraisal of the costs and benefits
of consolidation and expansion in Newport as opposed to reduction
of services there.
57. Without the retention of the office in Newport,
we doubt that the Government's duty to provide a Welsh-language
service to users can be properly discharged.
58. The decision reflects a failure on the part
of the UK Government to give adequate consideration to the cumulative
impact of its decisions on Wales.
59. The appraisal and consultation process which
led to the decision in principle to close the Passport Office
in Newport was unsatisfactory and the rationale for the decision
is questionable. In particular, the duty to inform and consult
the Welsh Assembly Government and the Secretary of State for Wales
were not properly discharged. The Government should use the extended
consultation period to question again the rationale behind the
decision, taking full account of an economic impact assessment,
and the whole process needs
to be presented in the context of a properly thought-through strategy
for the IPS in Wales. We call on the Government to ensure that
the concerns raised in our report are taken into account when
deciding on the future of the Newport Passport Office.
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