PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Passports: Applications (23 May 2022)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with HM Passport Office on tackling administrative delays that are lengthening the time taken to process passport applications and passport renewal applications.

Asked by:
Janet Daby (Labour)

Ahead of unrestricted international travel returning, HM Passport Office prepared extensively to serve an unprecedented number of customers, with 9.5 million British passport applications forecasted throughout 2022.

These preparations, which include the recruitment of 650 additional staff since April 2021 and with plans in place to recruit a further 550 by this summer, have ensured passport applications can be processed in higher numbers than ever before. This was demonstrated in March and April 2022 when HM Passport Office achieved record outputs by completing the processing of two million applications.

Ministers continue to meet regularly with officials to monitor performance, and to explore further options that will help to ensure people receive their passports in good time.

Answered by:
Kevin Foster (Conservative)
1 June 2022