Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse on the new contract for producing British passports.

No discussions have taken place between Home Office and the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse on the new contract for design, manufacture, assembly and personalisation of the UK passport.

Her Majesty’s Passport Office has undertaken a rigorous, fair and open competition to identify the supplier that will be best able to meet the needs of its passport service and customers and provides value for money.