Conclusions and recommendations
Restructuring the Identity and Passport Service
1. We
have some evidence that the Identity and Passport Service has
made decisions in the past that have come to be seen with hindsight
as short-sighted. Decisions are reversible, but in the case of
the Newport Office the impact may be permanent even if the predictions
on which the decision is based turn out to be wrong. For this
reason we believe it is important to re-examine and re-evaluate
the criteria on which the decision was based. They did not include
an economic impact assessment on an area which has suffered long-term
effects from the closures of the heavy industry on which its prosperity
was once founded. Nor did they give any weight to the fact that
the Newport Office is the only branch of the service in Wales.
For both these reasons, we believe the analysis undertaken by
the IPS regarding its cost saving programme was unsatisfactory.
These oversights and omissions should be addressed before the
final decision is taken. (Paragraph 12)
Retaining a full passport service at Newport
2. The
UK Government is committed to pursuing a programme of relocating
public sector jobs to the regions. We support this approach. In
the light of this, we conclude that there is a strong case for
consolidating services in Newport, rather than removing them.
We therefore recommend a further re-examination of the economic
case for the Newport Office on the basis of consolidation of services
there rather than their removal. In its response to this report
and to the public consultation, we expect the IPS to give a detailed
appraisal of this option. (Paragraph 16)
Consultation with the Secretary of State for Wales
3. In its report on Wales and
Whitehall, our predecessor Committee concluded that Whitehall
guidance as it applies to Wales has been misunderstood on a number
of occasions. We conclude that such a misunderstanding has occurred
again. Devolution Guidance Note 4 is clear on the key role of
the Secretary of State for Wales and the Wales Office from the
start and throughout any process. On this occasion the Secretary
of State for Wales was marginalised during the decision process.
The decision-making process was flawed by this omission. (Paragraph
19)
Negotiations with the unions
4. The breakdown in the relationship
between IPS management and the Public and Commercial Services
Union, which has deteriorated to the level of both sides publicly
trading claims and counter-claims, is a demonstration of the mismanagement
of the appraisal and consultation process relating to the proposed
decision to close the Newport Passport Application Processing
Centre. (Paragraph 24)
Announcement of the proposed closure
5. The initial announcement
that the Newport Passport Office would close was followed two
days later by the announcement of the retention of a customer
service centre. The piecemeal nature of these announcements suggests
the lack of a co-ordinated strategy regarding the future of the
Identity and Passport Service in Wales. The manner in which the
announcements were made public reflects badly on both the Home
Office and the Identity and Passport Service. (Paragraph 30)
The Economic Impact of the Proposed Closure
6. The closure of the passport
application processing centre at Newport would have a significant
economic impact on the city. We find it extraordinary that neither
an economic impact assessment nor an equality impact assessment
was undertaken before the decision was announced. We strongly
recommend that the Government publish its Economic Impact Assessment
and Equality Impact Assessment before a final decision is made
and that its findings are fully considered. (Paragraph 41)
7. Wales has recently suffered
from the cancellation of several key strategic projects which
would have brought investment and jobs to Wales, such as the cancellation
of the project to develop the military training facility at St
Athan. In addition, uncertainty remains about the electrification
of the main train line between Swansea and London. The closure
of the passport application processing centre would be a further
blow for the Welsh economy. (Paragraph 42)
The Impact of the Proposed Closure on Customers
8. The Newport Passport Office
has a reputation for excellent customer care. The closure of the
Newport Passport Application Processing Centre would result in
the loss to the service of skilled people with significant experience.
We are very concerned that a smaller office in Newport might lead
to the deterioration of services for the people of Wales and the
South West of England. The Government must guarantee that the
same high level of service will continue to be provided by the
Identity and Passport Service and set out its plans to ensure
this is met. (Paragraph 46)
Welsh language service provision
9. We welcome the Government's
commitment to continue providing Welsh language provision in Newport.
However, we are concerned that the closure of the Newport Passport
Application Processing Centre would mean that, in the first instance,
all applications from Wales, including those completed in the
Welsh language, would be sent to a processing centre outside Wales.
There would then inevitably be a delay as the Welsh language passport
forms were returned to the Newport customer office for processing.
We are concerned that there may be a deterioration in services
for Welsh speakers. (Paragraph 52)
Interview Office Network
10. We are concerned that the
closures of offices in the Interview Office Network will result
in customers in Wales having to travel unreasonable distances
for passport services and that specialist local knowledge, useful
in detecting passport related fraud, will be lost. (Paragraph
54)
Conclusions
11. 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. (Paragraph
55)
12. 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. (Paragraph 56)
13. 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.
(Paragraph 57)
14. 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. (Paragraph
58)
15. 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. (Paragraph
59)
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