Many fear they will be unable to travel abroad because of the delays in receiving new passports from Glasgow.

Whiling away the time

The problems caused by the introduction of a new computer system are being repeated at other offices around the UK.

Callers ringing the Passport Agency are played a recorded message which warns: "If you have yet to submit a fresh application, you may be aware there is currently a 10-week waiting period to process postal applications and lengthy queues of up to six hours at all offices."

They are then given an option of using a service which ensures a 24-hour turnaround for a passport but costs £100.

By 1000 on Tuesday, the queue in Glasgow was several hundred yards long.

Christine Jardine's report begins with the Passport Agency's phone message

This is always the passport agency's busiest time of the year but this summer concern has been heightened by difficulties with a new computer system in Liverpool and Wales. It created a backlog and meant much of the work being redistributed to Glasgow.

Some anxious applicants have been travelling north to Scotland to try to speed up the process.

A statement from the UK Passport Agency says most applications are being dealt with in five weeks. People are being asked not to go to the office unless they are within four days of their departure date.

Staff in Glasgow are reassuring people that while there is a problem there is no cause for concern and that applications are being prioritised.

A poster in the passport office

About 300 extra staff have been employed nationwide - 40 of them in Glasgow.

Civil service unions say they told the government to keep the old system running in parallel with the new one until the teething problems were ironed out.

John Sheldon, joint general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union said: "The Passport Agency has known for months that the computer was going to be late.

"They should have listened to the union and drafted in more, permanent and trained staff earlier. Their failure to act sooner has caused unnecessary misery and worry for holidaymakers."

"The extra staff will clear the backlog for travellers now but this will only postpone the problem unless the number of permanent staff is increased."