Passport to calamity

WHEN Carillion collapsed owing billions of pounds, it emerged that the Government had continued to award it contracts, despite the fact it had issued three profit warnings.

The contract for the new UK passports has been won by Gemalto, a Franco-Dutch company that has issued four profit warnings in the past 18 months.

After Carillion, we were assured by the Government that lessons would be learned, but clearly they haven’t been. Not everything should be measured by the yardstick of price. National security is more important than cost-cutting.

The passport contract should go to De La Rue, a commercially sound British company with a proven track record of reliability.

COLIN MACDONALD, Nottingham. WHEN I was 14, I left school and joined De La Rue. During the Thirties, it was an excellent employer and — as well as a five-day week and paid summer holidays — there was an annual company outing to the seaside.

I had a magical day in Southend where I rode every ride at the funfair.

De La Rue is part of our heritage and should not be passed over for the passport contract.

IRENE McLKISH, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.