A PASSPORT maker has reaffirmed its commitment to make permits for the post- Brexit era in the North-East.

De La Rue yesterday told The Northern Echo it is hopeful of preserving a longheld agreement to make the travel document at its Gateshead base.

The company has already made millions of UK passports and is tendering for new work ahead of its existing contract expiring in 2019.

Last night, Martin Sutherland, chief executive, told the Echo the business was proud to provide the British passport and aims to continue doing so having already helped the Passport Office on a newlook permit, which includes enhanced security features.

He also said the company was standing by to support Downing Street on any Brexit-induced changes in the wake of campaigners’ calls for a return to a dark blue passport, to reflect the country’s impending status outside the EU.

Mr Sutherland was speaking after growth across the company’s identification division was supplemented by successes in its cash-making operation, which sees De La Rue provide currencies for countries around the world.

Those agreements include new plastic notes for the Bank of England, which are made at a sister Essex factory and helped polymer volumes nearly quadruple to 380 tonnes in the year to March 25.

Referring to its passport work, Mr Sutherland, who last year told the Echo that the company was keen on retaining its travel permit arrangement, said: “We are proud as a British company to provide the British passport.

“That contract is up for retender and we have had it for about seven or eight years.

“We produce the British passport in Gateshead and hope to continue to produce it in Gateshead.”

The business’ North-East operation employs hundreds of workers at its Gateshead factories and has the capacity to make millions of bank notes every day.

According to its latest financial results, the firm’s money-making prowess, which has seen it provide cash for countries including Fiji and the Maldives, helped drive its finance sheet forward.

Revenue stood at £461.7m, which was two per cent better off than a year ago, with reported operating profit five per cent higher at £70.2m.

Mr Sutherland said the figures were strong and reflective of a previously-announced plan to position the business for growth.

He added: “It is a good set of results and we’ve seen good resilience in currency and good growth in passports.

“The market is growing and there are more countries seeing the advantage of polymer; it is more durable and more difficult to counterfeit.

“Our share of the market is also growing and we are taking it from the only other company in the market.

“With continuing good momentum in delivering our plan, and a strong 12-month order book of £387m, I am confident we will deliver on our expectations.”