A CITY AM has dismissed claims the Swansea passport interview office is under threat.

Around 250 civil servants could lose their jobs if plans to close the Newport office go ahead, meaning people in Wales will have to travel to Liverpool or London for passports.

The news sparked fears the Swansea office could also close as part of the streamlining measures.

This would mean first-time passport applicants could face a round trip of up to 600-miles to have their information verified.

South Wales West AM and Swansea councillor Peter Black said it was a "wrong move" to close the Newport office. However, he added he would be surprised if the Swansea office closed. "I have seen nothing to suggest that the Swansea interview office is to be closed," he said. "As it stands the changes to the way that passports are issued requires some form of local presence to confirm a person's identity. The system could not cope if that were centralised in London and in fact there would be added cost to the passport and identity service in setting up and running alternative arrangements in the UK capital."

Mr Black also said Newport would be the wrong passport office to close, adding it would make more sense to close a London office because of the costs of running the office in the capital and greater job prospects for those put out of work by the move.

He also added: "Wales is a country in its own right and though we rightly form part of the UK in terms of home affairs and foreign relations, there is a great deal of sense in having a passport office based here, both for employment reasons and prestige."

helen.keates@swwmedia.co.uk