To expect that our new passports will be printed in the UK

So what do you say to De La Rue printing money for different countries?

More suspicious is that De La Rue have been printing passports for years . The French/ Dutch company have never printed passports. Therefore they will have massive set up costs , machinery outlay etc. This makes me even more convinced that there’s something “going on” .

Thanks durhamjen, the link you've given confirms my memory, that 'health tourism' is a drop in the ocean in comparison with the investment needed for our NHS. Incidentally, I'm not suggesting that visitors from say the USA who have private health cover shouldn't pay for any treatment that becomes necessary during their stay. All responsible tourists take out health insurance and it should be used whichever country it's needed in.

More seriously...

infacts.org/mail-patel-cant-think-straight-blue-passports/

newsthump.com/2018/03/23/blue-passports-will-need-to-be-collected-in-person-from-amsterdam/

Despite claims to the contrary, there has been no bigotry or racism on this thread what so ever. What there has been are Gransnetters discussing a subject which interests them. The old familiar cry of racism at every turn from some people is a compete disgrace, mentioning facts about immigration/ immigrants is not racism. To say so is simply to try to put down the other person/poster, it’s very unpleasant.

fullfact.org/health/health-tourism-savings-wont-plug-hole-nhs-funding/

For you, Iam.
(Been out watching my granddaughter dancing.)

If yours is near expiry, prices go up on 27 of March so worth doing now. Now going to be more expensive at post office than online, too. You can add up to six months of time from current one on to new one. This advice courtesy of Martyn Lewis moneysaving site!

Oh grannyjean where have you been ? ( I think I’ve wrote a song ) . Yikes .

You are SO right ! And I’ve been in business for over 25 years !

People are quite happy to use companies eg Amazon that don’t pay their full share of taxes and thus contribute to our economic woes - there is hypocrisy and irony in full measure on this thread not to mention racism and bigotry

grannyjean
It's wonderful to see that the Levin brothers have resurrected the family lace making company in Nottingham.

Spot on grannyjean

There are media complaints about the government not buying British passports but regrettably, a lot of the general public will not buy British if it costs them more. During over 30 years in business I have been told by vast numbers of retailers that they were unable to sell eg Nottingham lace (superb quality) because customers wanted the cheaper Chinese product. Whatever the British product, there was a cheaper Chinese equivalent and that is what the public bought. Cheaper foreign imports are why our hosiery and knitwear factories closed down in Notts and Leics. How can the public criticise the govt for behaviour thats no different from their own? (patriotic gransnetters excepted, of course)

Or perhaps I'll just stick to discussing the matter on this forum. Like everyone else.

Oh right, I'll send them a letter tomorrow.

Except the French and Germans have refused to put their passport contracts out for international tender, citing security issues. A free and open market?

So who decided that Maggiemaybe? This government. How about complaining to them?

When we were voting for "in" or "out" my husband said he would vote for "out" so we could get out blue passports back, never dreaming it would come true!

I don’t want a blue passport Grandma70s - the good news is that you don't have to have one! You can get covers of lots of different colours for your passport if you feel so strongly.

We need to trade with the rest of the world as proved if a company offers a cheaper price for a service for example in France who do you think will get the contract? It’s called a free and open market that we will still need to use ??

Except the French and Germans have refused to put their passport contracts out for international tender, citing security issues. A free and open market?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Totally agree with your post of 19.08 gilly. And with that I must away and bath my little grandson who is staying overnight with us tonight. First I will need to wrestle him away from his games with Grandad.

You’re right geri, illegals who arrive in the back of lorries do get an allowance whilst their applications are processed. But they’re not allowed to work.

But I don’t believe there could have been such a massive difference in price Momof3 . Unless of course the French government are subsiding them in order to get the business and have a damned good laugh at our expense as previously suggested . Either that or they will ask for more money at a later date . Nothing would surprise me .

Yes of course Iam64, illegals from so long ago really should be legalised, not least because then they would then be paying tax and NI and have access to all the associated benefits ie pension rights. However I don’t agree that whilst people remain illegal, that they should be able to access health care or education. If they’re in the system to that extent, they should be followed up and legalised or deported as appropriate.

And many who arrived in the back of lorries remain under the radar.