To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
HM Passport Office: ICT
Tuesday 20th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were employed by the Digital Application Processing development programme in HM Passport Office on 1 March 2022.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The number of people engaged in developing the Digital Application Service as of 1 March 2022 was 68.


Written Question
Refugees: Afghanistan
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral evidence session of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee of 29 June 2022, how many of the 6,500 people identified for the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme were already residing in the UK prior to the launch of that scheme on 6 January 2022.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) launched on 6 January 2022 and will see up to 20,000 people from Afghanistan and the region resettled to the UK over the coming years.

We helped over 15,000 people to safety in the biggest and fastest emergency evacuation in recent history and we have continued to bring people to the UK, with over 4,000 people helped to enter since the evacuation. We have been clear from the outset this will include some of those who arrived in the UK under the evacuation programme. Around 6,500 people brought to safety in the UK during and after the evacuation are eligible for the ACRS under Pathway 1. They include women’s rights activists, journalists, and prosecutors, as well as the Afghan families of British Nationals and members of the LGBT community.

Work is underway to assure information relating to all the individuals relocated under the ARAP and ACRS on case-working systems. Once this work concludes, statistics on both schemes - including the number of people resettled under each - will be included in the published Immigration Statistics.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: Staff
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) permanent, (b) full-time equivalent, (c) agency and (d) other staff were recruited to HM Passport Office in the period between 1 April 2022 and July 2022 so far.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 March 2022

Full-time equivalents April 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3205.99

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

25.54

Agency Workers

1141.52

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

51.72



The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1 January 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 June 2022.

Full-time equivalents June 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3379.63

Civil servants(Fixed-term Appointment)

188.43

Agency Workers

1357.50

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

70.74


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1st January and 31st March 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00



Her Majesty’s Passport Office recruited 720 full-time equivalent staff between 1 April and the 22 July. Of this figure, 390 were permanent staff.


Staffing numbers at Her Majesty’s Passport Office has increased by over 1200 since April 2021. Its recruitment will continue to cover any attrition, to ensure the passport service remains fully resourced.

We are committed to ensuring public services are run as efficiently and effectively as possible. Given elevated demand will not continue indefinitely, it is appropriate to have flexible resources available. Therefore, while there has been some recruitment of civil servants, the use of agency workers is appropriate in this context.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: Staff
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) permanent, (b) full-time equivalent, (c) agency and (d) other staff were recruited to HM Passport Office in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 March 2022

Full-time equivalents April 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3205.99

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

25.54

Agency Workers

1141.52

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

51.72



The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1 January 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 June 2022.

Full-time equivalents June 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3379.63

Civil servants(Fixed-term Appointment)

188.43

Agency Workers

1357.50

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

70.74


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1st January and 31st March 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00



Her Majesty’s Passport Office recruited 720 full-time equivalent staff between 1 April and the 22 July. Of this figure, 390 were permanent staff.


Staffing numbers at Her Majesty’s Passport Office has increased by over 1200 since April 2021. Its recruitment will continue to cover any attrition, to ensure the passport service remains fully resourced.

We are committed to ensuring public services are run as efficiently and effectively as possible. Given elevated demand will not continue indefinitely, it is appropriate to have flexible resources available. Therefore, while there has been some recruitment of civil servants, the use of agency workers is appropriate in this context.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: Staff
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) permanent, (b) fixed term appointment, (c) agency and (d) other staff were working in HM Passport Office on 1 July 2022.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 March 2022

Full-time equivalents April 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3205.99

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

25.54

Agency Workers

1141.52

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

51.72



The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1 January 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 June 2022.

Full-time equivalents June 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3379.63

Civil servants(Fixed-term Appointment)

188.43

Agency Workers

1357.50

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

70.74


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1st January and 31st March 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00



Her Majesty’s Passport Office recruited 720 full-time equivalent staff between 1 April and the 22 July. Of this figure, 390 were permanent staff.


Staffing numbers at Her Majesty’s Passport Office has increased by over 1200 since April 2021. Its recruitment will continue to cover any attrition, to ensure the passport service remains fully resourced.

We are committed to ensuring public services are run as efficiently and effectively as possible. Given elevated demand will not continue indefinitely, it is appropriate to have flexible resources available. Therefore, while there has been some recruitment of civil servants, the use of agency workers is appropriate in this context.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: Staff
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) permanent, (b) fixed term appointment, (c) agency and (d) other staff were employed at HM Passport Office on 1 January 2022.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 March 2022

Full-time equivalents April 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3205.99

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

25.54

Agency Workers

1141.52

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

51.72



The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1 January 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 June 2022.

Full-time equivalents June 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3379.63

Civil servants(Fixed-term Appointment)

188.43

Agency Workers

1357.50

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

70.74


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1st January and 31st March 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00



Her Majesty’s Passport Office recruited 720 full-time equivalent staff between 1 April and the 22 July. Of this figure, 390 were permanent staff.


Staffing numbers at Her Majesty’s Passport Office has increased by over 1200 since April 2021. Its recruitment will continue to cover any attrition, to ensure the passport service remains fully resourced.

We are committed to ensuring public services are run as efficiently and effectively as possible. Given elevated demand will not continue indefinitely, it is appropriate to have flexible resources available. Therefore, while there has been some recruitment of civil servants, the use of agency workers is appropriate in this context.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: Staff
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) permanent, (b) fixed-term, (c) agency and (d) other staff were working in HM Passport Office on 1 April 2022.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 March 2022

Full-time equivalents April 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3205.99

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

25.54

Agency Workers

1141.52

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

51.72



The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1 January 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 30 June 2022.

Full-time equivalents June 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3379.63

Civil servants(Fixed-term Appointment)

188.43

Agency Workers

1357.50

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

70.74


The table below shows the breakdown of workers at HM Passport Office on 1st January and 31st March 2022

Full-time equivalents January 2022

Civil servants (Permanent)

3182.54

Civil servants (Fixed-term Appointment)

2.54

Agency Workers

902.64

Civil Servants Unpaid (Fixed-term Appointment, Loan & Permanent)

96.00



Her Majesty’s Passport Office recruited 720 full-time equivalent staff between 1 April and the 22 July. Of this figure, 390 were permanent staff.


Staffing numbers at Her Majesty’s Passport Office has increased by over 1200 since April 2021. Its recruitment will continue to cover any attrition, to ensure the passport service remains fully resourced.

We are committed to ensuring public services are run as efficiently and effectively as possible. Given elevated demand will not continue indefinitely, it is appropriate to have flexible resources available. Therefore, while there has been some recruitment of civil servants, the use of agency workers is appropriate in this context.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: ICT
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the Application Management System at HM Passport Office has not yet been replaced with Digital Application Processing.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The full roll out of the Digital Application Processing service has taken longer than originally anticipated. This is due in part to the response required to COVID-19, unexpected complexity involving transforming ways of working, and similar impacts for deliveries on which the service is dependent.

HM Passport Office has transitioned 75-85% of applications to the new Digital Application Process to date. In addition, the availability of two stable systems has enabled HM Passport Office to mitigate some of the risks in processing record numbers of applications during this period of exceptionally high demand.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: ICT
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were employed by the Digital Application Processing development programme in HM Passport Office on 1 November 2021.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The number of people engaged in developing the Digital Application Service as of 1 November 2021 was 61.


Written Question
HM Passport Office: ICT
Tuesday 6th September 2022

Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there are penalty costs for continued use of the legacy Application Management System system at HM Passport Office.

Answered by Kevin Foster

No penalty regime exists for the continued use of the legacy Application Management System.