27 July 2006 Holidaymakers face new passport prices
British holidaymakers will now face the extra financial burden of increasing passport charges.
From October this year the cost of a new passport will rise to £66, a 29 per cent increase in price, which many believe has been implemented to cover the costs of the government's new biometric scheme and identity card plans.
The new biometric passports, which were introduced in March this year, will be universally introduced from August this year for all travellers who apply for a new or replacement passport.
New fraud-proof measures, such as microchips containing digital photos, which will be introduced in the new passports, have been blamed for the price hike.
Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "This sharp price increase will come as a shock to many holidaymakers this summer.
"Many people will simply not understand why they are having to pay for the government's own decision to gather biometric details for ID cards for each and every one of us."
More than one million biometric passports have been issued so far, according to the Evening Standard. 
© Adfero Ltd
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