To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any changes have been made to the criteria for acceptability for passport photographs submitted to the Identity and Passport Service since the publication of the most recent version of information leaflet PLE/04, on passport photographs. (118316)

[holding answer 5 February 2007]: The photo standards information leaflet, PLE/04, was introduced in January 2006 in support of changes in the criteria introduced in late November 2005. There have been no subsequent changes to the criteria used by the Identity and Passport Service in accepting photographs. The guidance and leaflet are being reviewed and may be updated in response to feedback from customers and staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Warrington, North have been issued with a free passport. (117992)

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) does not ask passport holders to keep their address up to date on our database. Therefore, the IPS cannot identify the number of current residents by geographical area who have taken advantage of the scheme to issue free passports to those applicants born on or before 2 September 1929.

However 398,615 people born on or before 2 September 1929 have in total had their entitlement to free British passports fulfilled by the IPS up until 31 December 2006. This includes passports issued on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to British residents overseas.