I wish to raise a very serious issue that is brought to my attention on a regular basis, namely the problems encountered by parents and guardians when they travel abroad with their own children. Mothers who may have chosen to keep their maiden name after marriage are being stopped by security, in some instances, because their surname does not match the surname on their children's passports. They are being detained by immigration officers and are being interrogated, in some instances for hours, simply because their surname does not match their children's surname. It is absolutely ridiculous that this is happening in 2023. Families have to bring extra documentation with them such as birth certificates. In some instances, and this is true, women are choosing double-barrel names just so the name matches that on their children's passports. The solution is very simple. If we were to make a provision on children's passports so that both guardians' or both parents' names were included on the passport, that would solve the problem. Can we make it happen?

I have no doubt this is a problem. I will be very honest; I am in that very situation in that I have a different surname from that of my children. It is not a problem that has arisen for me. At the same time, I do not doubt that it has been a problem for others. I am very happy to raise this concern directly with the Minister with responsibility for our passports to address any problem that might present.