Jobs go at Scots passport office

Postal application processing will cease by the end of the year

The passport processing centre in Glasgow, which deals with postal applications, is to close by the end of the year with the loss of 114 jobs.

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) said the decision was necessary due to falling demand for passports.

The closure will not affect the public counter service in Glasgow, which deals with urgent and emergency applications.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said it would fight against any compulsory redundancies.

In a statement, IPS chief executive James Hall said: "Customers will still receive the same first rate service when applying for passports and Glasgow's public counter will remain open to provide assistance, including issuing urgent and emergency passports.

"It is regrettable we have had to take the difficult decision to restructure our Glasgow office, but falling demand for passports means IPS must make decisions to maintain our high standards across the business."

The decision will see 114 posts go from the 284 currently employed in the Glasgow office.

IPS said it would do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies and would offer staff the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy or voluntary early retirement.

Under the plans IPS will keep the five remaining passport processing centres open in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.