David's Digest

My passport runs out in a few weeks time so, to be ready for a couple of Farmers Weekly study tours next year and to try to avoid the Chistmas postal congestion, I set out to collect an application form to renew it in good time.

First problem, our local Post Office didn't have one. "We're not allowed to stock them these days", the lady behind the counter told me. "You'll have to get one from the main Office in town". So, next time I had to go to the bank I popped in to the Post Office next door to get my form.

Filling it in is simple enough, especially if its just a renewal. If you've lost the old one or its been stolen - that's a different matter. Anyway, I got to the bit about the fee. "For latest information contact our website", the document instucted.

Imagine my consternation when I did so and found that my new passport will cost me £77.50 plus £8 handling fee. If I wanted it quickly for immediate travel it would cost £112.50. And if I were a child wanting my first passport I would have to pay £49. Only if I were born before Sept 2009 (which I was not in case you were wondering) would I be able to buy a new passport for the discounted price of just £35.

I could hardly believe these prices. Is the government trying to make it so expensive to travel out of the country in order to keep us at home? Or are they using an occasional desire to go abroad as another way of raising money for the Treasury? 

I can remember when passports cost £12. And even when I last renewed mine ten years ago I seem to remember it was twenty something. I suppose I shall have to bite the bullet and pay up. Now I have to find someone to countersign my photograph and say I am of good character. It could be an even bigger problem. And when I last checked my doctor was charging about £15 to do that.