OFFICIALS have cancelled a planned meeting between passport office union reps and ministers for a second time, it has emerged.

The move prompted John Griffiths, Newport East AM, to say he thinks he and union workers from the Public and Commercial Services union are being strung along by the government.

Mr Griffiths has been trying to set a meeting up between him, union representatives and immigration minister Damian Green since it was offered to him by Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan last year.

Union reps were planning to express their concerns on the proposals, which are under consultation until March, to Mr Green, who has ultimate responsibility over the decision whether or not to shut the Upper Dock Street branch.

The Argus is among those campaigning against the plan to close the facility, which will put 300 people out of work and leave Wales without its own passport office.

The farce began in November last year when Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan responded to Mr Griffiths’ calls for her to visit the passport office.

Although she said it would not be “proper” for her to meet staff during the consultation, she instead offered to host a delegation from the office with Mr Green in London.

A date was arranged in December but was quickly cancelled, with officials in the Wales Office claiming there would be nothing new to discuss without the yet-to-be-completed economic impact study into the proposal.

Then early last week Mr Griffiths was given another appointment - this Wednesday - only for it to be cancelled by Wales Office staff on Monday.

Mr Griffiths said officials gave the same reason as before for the delay.

He said: “It adds to the concern that the UK government and the Identity and Passport Service are not taking the consultation and the case against closure as seriously as they should.

“I feel that myself and the union are being strung along.”

A Wales Office spokesman said: “The meeting with John Griffiths AM is being rescheduled to allow the completion of the economic assessment report.

“In the meantime, the Welsh Secretary continues to press the case for the workforce of Newport and has already had several meetings with the immigration minister, local MPs and Newport council leader Matthew Evans.”

Extension 'brings hope' - Flynn

NEWPORT West MP Paul Flynn said the two month extension to the consultation on the closure of the passport office and the loss of 250 jobs was an “encouragement”.

Mr Flynn said: “Although it is too early to start celebrating, two months is a substantial period of grace and gives time to re-examine the submissions seriously.

Mr Flynn asked for the concession last week at Prime Minister’s questions.

He said: “There is hope that with this time, the Home Office will change their minds on this unfair cut of jobs that will hit Newport and Wales hard.”