Kevin Foster dismisses claims of a ‘lack of planning’ at the passport office

In an urgent question, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asked for a statement on the delays at the passport office, which she described as “predictable” and blamed the home office for a “lack of planning”.

Home minister Kevin Foster rejected this claim, telling the House of Commons that the passport office are “recruiting another 700” to help deal with the demand as people begin to travel again.

When asked about privatising the passport office to speed up the process, as had been “threatened” by the prime minister, Foster explained that there already exists “extensive” use of the private sector.