11 July 2012 Last updated at 05:55 ET

Passport cost to fall by £5, says Home Office

Around 5.4 million passports were produced in the last financial year, the Home Office says

The cost of an adult passport will fall by £5 - or 6% - this autumn after £40m savings were made in the last financial year, the Home Office says.

Immigration Minister Damian Green says it will be cut from £77.50 to £72.50 after several "efficiency measures".

A child's passport will fall from £49 to £46 and the cost of an adult's fast-track passport from £112.50 to £103.

The Home Office has closed 22 interview offices and one application processing centre, cutting staff by 9% to 315.

"The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has worked hard to provide value for money in the vital service it provides, and it is right that these savings are passed on to customers and fee-payers," Mr Green said.

"Not only has IPS made the efficiency savings to make this possible, but it has done so whilst continuing to provide a very high standard of service to customers."

Around 5.4 million passports were produced in the last financial year, with almost all processed within a fortnight, Home Office figures show.