To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009, Official Report, column 957W, on passports, what fee will be charged for an application for a fingerprint biometric passport; and whether holders of existing passports will be required to obtain a fingerprint biometric passport. (303840)

The level of fees that will apply in the future when fingerprint biometric passports are introduced has not been set and will depend on the future fee strategy for passports and identity cards. However, the current standard fee for an adult passport is £77.50 and £30.00 for an identity card. Once fingerprint biometric passports are introduced, anyone applying for a passport, whether as a first time applicant or as an existing passport holder, would have the choice of being issued with a fingerprint biometric passport or a fingerprint biometric identity card or both documents.