Here at Your-hols.com, we’re sticklers for all sorts of things: accuracy, efficiency, cost-savings and generally, trying to get things right. Which is why we’re honoured by the press release that dropped into our inbox this morning announcing one of the most significant changes ever in the world of travel – the passport office is changing its name.
Formerly the Identity and Passport Service, the new office is to be called – wait for it – Her Majesty’s Passport Office.
We’re told, according to the press release, that the change was necessary as the office is ‘no longer responsible for government policy on identity’ – a hangover from the failed attempt to introduce ID cards by the previous Labour government.
The same release crows about how much the service has saved over the last year in its efficiency drive – around £20million apparently. So we’re glad to see that a chunk of this has been put to really good use with what seems like an unnecessary name change. So it’s never going to produce ID cards – you still need to prove who you are to get a passport, so it’s not like the word ‘identity’ is a misnomer.
How many working hours of civil service time were taken up with change is one thing that’s missing from the release – but given they have also designed a new logo which also means new signage, new letterheads, new staff ID – whoops – cards to get into the newly rebranded buildings, you can bet its a pretty penny. So much for austerity…