Defect rate of ePassport chips & validity of ePassports with defective chips

3rd May 2009

Dear Sirs,

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

In early 2006 the Passport Service began issuing UK ePassports,
containing a contactless "chip" which allows the data printed on
the passport also to be read electronically.

Could you please supply me with the following information about
ePassports:

1. The number of UK ePassports issued per month, for every month
since the first UK ePassport was issued.

2. The number of UK ePassports returned by holders reporting that
the chip is faulty, per month, for every month since the first UK
ePassport was issued.

3. The number of UK ePassports where you have confirmed that the
chip is faulty, per month, for every month since the first UK
ePassport was issued.

4. Whether a UK ePassport containing a faulty chip, but otherwise
undamaged, is a valid UK passport.

Please include copies of material which you hold in the form of
paper and electronic records including email.

If you need me to clarify this request please telephone me on
[phone number hidden]
or contact me by replying to this email. I look forward to
hearing from you promptly, as required by the legislation, and in
any case within 20 working days.

Yours Faithfully,

Andrew Watson

4th June 2009

Your reference: FOICR 11842/09

Dear Mr Reid,

Thank you for your acknowledgement of my FOI request, which you
received on 5th May 2009. In that acknowledgement you note that, by
law, I should receive a substantive response by 3rd June 2009. May
I remind you that this response is now overdue?

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Watson