Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of (a) the reliability of her Department's chosen courier service and (b) reports from applicants of the loss of confidential documentation in transit to and from her Department's offices.

British passports, Biometric Residence Permits, and Home Office Travel Documents are delivered under HM Passport Office’s UK secure delivery contract.

HM Passport Office works closely with all of its suppliers to ensure that services are delivered in line with our robust contractual demands; ensuring that any issues are resolved as quickly as possible. Reports of any loss are fully investigated and inform security reviews.

In response to some pressures within the UK delivery network, which peaked in late-November 2021, HM Passport Office has worked with its delivery partner to identify the solutions that have helped this service to meet the required performance targets.