Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the ongoing Ofcom investigation into Royal Mail’s compliance with its quality-of-service performance targets in 2022-23 was relevant to the decision to award Royal Mail the contract to collect and deliver passports and travel documents; and if she will make a statement.

The contract for the secure delivery of passports and other mail services on behalf of the Home Office was awarded in October 2022, prior to the Ofcom investigation.

The contract was awarded following a fair and open competition and extensive due diligence, with Royal Mail best demonstrating that they could meet the requirements of the Home Office and its customers.