Families caught up in this summer's passport chaos today said the Government is punishing them for its own mistake by increasing the price of a passport by a third.

People in North Yorkshire have reacted with anger to Home Secretary Jack Straw's announcement that passport fees will increase by £7 to £28 for adults and by £3.80 to £14.80 for children next week.

In his statement, Mr Straw said the Passport Agency would be expanded to increase its capacity by 25 per cent to enable it to issue an additional 1.3 million passports each year.

Vicki Henderson, of Leeman Road, York, who waited with bated breath for her 18-month-old daughter Levi-Victoria's passport to arrive in time for the family holiday to Spain's Costa Brava, is not impressed.

She said: "It's unbelievable. I suppose I knew it would happen but it wasn't our fault to begin with and they are making it our fault by making us pay.

"Although we finally got Levi-Victoria's passport through in time, I've still got to renew mine soon and so does my husband so it will still affect us. It's unfair to punish us for someone else's mistake."

Yvonne Brown, of Ridgeway, York, who suffered stress in the summer when her passport was extended for two years as an emergency measure, but was returned to her without a stamp to say that, said: "I think it's a cheek because it's their fault.

"I suppose in two years time when I get my passport renewed again the price may have gone up even further.

"I think It's an awful lot of money to put it up by."

The National Audit Office had costed the special measures brought in at £12.6 million.

Mr Straw insisted it would not be right to meet these from increased fees. They would be met instead from efficiency savings instead, he said.

But significant investment was required for the future and this would require increased fees.

"I understand that fees increases are never popular. However, the increase has been restricted to the minimum necessary to ensure that the crucial service improvements I have described today are delivered," he said.

"I do not anticipate the need for any further increase in these fees for at least two years."

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said: "ABTA has expressed its shock at the decision announced today to increase passport application fees by 30 per cent.

"As a result of the fierce competition within the holiday industry travel is now within the reach of the great majority of the British public.

"This significant increase will deter some people from applying."

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