A GWENT politician last night described as shambolic a decision to scrap a meeting between representatives of Newport passport office staff and the minister responsible for their fate - just days after it was arranged.

The Wales Office told the Argus it postponed today's meeting between union reps, Newport MPs and the immigration minister Damian Green, as it was waiting the results of an economic study.

But Newport East Labour AM John Griffiths, who was offered the meeting by Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan last week following calls from him for her to visit the office, said the episode appeared to be a stalling tactic.

The Argus is among those campaigning to save Newport passport office and last month handed in a petition of 24,000 names into 10 Downing Street, calling for the plans to be shelved.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union and Newport MPs Paul Flynn and Jessica Morden were due to attend the meeting in London today, together with Mr Griffiths, Mrs Gillan and Mr Green.

Mr Griffiths said the debacle began when his office was contacted by the Wales Office on Monday asking that they reduce the number of union reps to attend to one - four were planning to go.

A few hours later Wales Office officials then told him that until the economic impact assessment on closing the regional passport offices was complete, there was no new information to discuss.

“The whole episode leaves a bad taste in the mouth and appears to be a stalling tactic as the day of decision draws nearer," he added.

Ms Morden said she would push for the meeting to be reorganised and added: “Mrs Gillan and the minister may not think they have anything to say but we certainly have plenty to say to them.”

A Wales Office spokesman said it was expected that the report would be ready in time for the meeting but had been delayed. He said it would be postponed until “probably the early New Year”.

He could not confirm whether the Wales Office changed its mind on how many union officers could attend.

Asked if he could give a specific date as to when the meeting could take place, the spokesman said parliament does not resume after the winter break until January 10.

The consultation on closing the passport office ends six days later, on January 16.

Workers ready to act after vote

WORKERS with the Identity and Passport Service voted to take industrial action but not to strike, according to the result of a nation-wide ballot said to be marred by bad weather.

Over the last few weeks the Public and Commercial Services union has asked its 2,700 IPS members whether they should strike over the proposed closure of the Newport passport office and interview offices across the UK.

PCS Newport passport office branch secretary Anne-Louise McKeon-Williams said only 25 per cent of the members voted, with 75 per cent voting for industrial action short of strike action.

Just under half, she said, voted for strike action.

However a PCS statement by group secretary Alan Brown said bad weather may have affected the nation-wide ballot, forcing meetings at offices to be cancelled and delaying paperwork in the post.

The vote means union members could work to rule, choosing not to do any overtime, but PCS's IPS group executive committee could also opt to hold the ballot again.

The committee is due to make its decision at a meeting on Friday.

An IPS spokesman said the service was disappointed by the decision of PCS members to take industrial action while the consultation was ongoing.