T Simonite

Email: mailto:[FOI #396 email]

Our reference: FOICR 9510/08

Date: 10 June 2008

Dear Sir/Madam

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your e-mail of 16 May in which you ask for information on the number of change of name passport applications. We are now in a position to offer a full reply to your request.

I am pleased to be able to disclose the information that you requested to you.

The annual number of requests by passport holders to change the name

on their passport, after changing their name by deed poll, for the

last 25 years.

We do not have this detailed breakdown of the information requested. The figures below account for all name changes and do not break down the reason for the name change. There could be many reasons for name changes to passports including marriage.

Data on name changes is only held for two years.

June 06 to December 06 - 118,343.

2007 - 199,448.

2008 to date - 79,976.

However if you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of any aspect of our handling of your application by submitting your complaint to the address below and quote case reference number FOICR 9510/08:

Information Rights Team
Information and Record Management Service
Home Office
4th Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: [email address]

During the internal review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by members of staff who were not involved in providing you with this response.

Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

In keeping with the spirit and effect of the Freedom of Information Act, all information is assumed to be releasable to the public unless exempt. The department therefore, will be simultaneously releasing to the public the information you requested together with any related information that will provide a key to its wider context.

I hope that you find this information of interest, and would like to assure you that you have been supplied with all relevant information that the Identity and Passport Service holds.

Yours sincerely,

H Reid

Identity and Passport Service

For advice on how and where to obtain a passport,

call the Passport Adviceline on 0870 521 0410

(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

You can also email [email address]

or visit www.ips.gov.uk

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