PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Diplomatic Service: Passports (9 January 2024)

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 9 January 2023 on Diplomatic Passport Policy, HCWS173, if he will list individuals with (a) a diplomatic and (b) an official passport other than members of HM Diplomatic Service and their families.

Asked by:
Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative)

Diplomatic passports are issued to UK civil servants (and their families) accredited overseas with diplomatic or consular status. Official passports are given to those with administrative and technical status.

A limited number of exceptions have been made to issue diplomatic passports to officials travelling on government business for security reasons.

Some military personnel have received short-validity official passports or, more rarely, diplomatic passports where these are required to fulfil their functions.

Answered by:
David Rutley (Conservative)
17 January 2024