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| Passport boss facing fresh questions from MPs | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The head of the Passport Office is facing fresh questions from an MPs' committee later about continuing delays in the handling of applications. | |
| Paul Pugh apologised last month for the distress caused to people after a surge in renewal requests led to a backlog. | Paul Pugh apologised last month for the distress caused to people after a surge in renewal requests led to a backlog. |
| The Home Office has ordered a series of emergency measures, including giving UK citizens living overseas an automatic one-year extension to their passports. | The Home Office has ordered a series of emergency measures, including giving UK citizens living overseas an automatic one-year extension to their passports. |
| But MPs have warned that the situation seems to be getting worse not better. | But MPs have warned that the situation seems to be getting worse not better. |
| Ministers have apologised for the delays, saying applications are at a 12-year high, but unions have blamed the backlogs on staff cuts over the past four years. | Ministers have apologised for the delays, saying applications are at a 12-year high, but unions have blamed the backlogs on staff cuts over the past four years. |
| A Passport Office employee has told the BBC the emergency measures present a "huge security risk", but the Home Office said her allegations were "false". | A Passport Office employee has told the BBC the emergency measures present a "huge security risk", but the Home Office said her allegations were "false". |
| Appearing before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee last month, Mr Pugh said he had anticipated an increase in the agency's workload after it took over responsibility from the Foreign Office for applications from British citizens living abroad. | Appearing before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee last month, Mr Pugh said he had anticipated an increase in the agency's workload after it took over responsibility from the Foreign Office for applications from British citizens living abroad. |
| But the Passport Office chief executive said that could not explain the scale of the demand for passport renewals this year, with nearly 400,000 more applications in the first five months of 2014 than during the corresponding period the previous year. | But the Passport Office chief executive said that could not explain the scale of the demand for passport renewals this year, with nearly 400,000 more applications in the first five months of 2014 than during the corresponding period the previous year. |
| The most recent figures seen by the BBC showed that the number of applications categorised as "work in progress" rose to about 537,000 on 22 June from 483,000 at the start of last month. | The most recent figures seen by the BBC showed that the number of applications categorised as "work in progress" rose to about 537,000 on 22 June from 483,000 at the start of last month. |
| 'Emergency action' | 'Emergency action' |
| At the same time, the total number of passports issued went down by almost 15,000 while the number of standard applications being dealt with within the target of three weeks dropped from 77% to 61%. | At the same time, the total number of passports issued went down by almost 15,000 while the number of standard applications being dealt with within the target of three weeks dropped from 77% to 61%. |
| Data released by the Passport Office on 20 June suggested it was having to deal with a backlog of 53,000 applications - higher than previously thought. | Data released by the Passport Office on 20 June suggested it was having to deal with a backlog of 53,000 applications - higher than previously thought. |
| Among a series of steps taken to try to speed up the application process, people with an "urgent need" to travel were able to upgrade to the fast-track service for free for a limited period. | Among a series of steps taken to try to speed up the application process, people with an "urgent need" to travel were able to upgrade to the fast-track service for free for a limited period. |
| At the home affairs ommittee's initial hearing on 17 June, its chairman Keith Vaz said Mr Pugh would be recalled if the situation did not improve. | At the home affairs ommittee's initial hearing on 17 June, its chairman Keith Vaz said Mr Pugh would be recalled if the situation did not improve. |
| Speaking on Monday, the Labour MP said: "When Mr Pugh came before the committee last time he promised that the emergency action taken by the home secretary and the additional steps he was implementing would reduce the backlog. | Speaking on Monday, the Labour MP said: "When Mr Pugh came before the committee last time he promised that the emergency action taken by the home secretary and the additional steps he was implementing would reduce the backlog. |
| "The opposite has happened and it would appear the amount of applications has actually increased whilst the number of passports being issued has gone down. The committee will be interested to hear why this has occurred and what further steps will be taken to rectify it." | "The opposite has happened and it would appear the amount of applications has actually increased whilst the number of passports being issued has gone down. The committee will be interested to hear why this has occurred and what further steps will be taken to rectify it." |
| The Home Office has said it is not unusual during peak periods for the Passport Office to operate with high numbers of applications in the system at any one time and insisted it was getting to grips with the problems. | The Home Office has said it is not unusual during peak periods for the Passport Office to operate with high numbers of applications in the system at any one time and insisted it was getting to grips with the problems. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, a whistleblower from the Passport Office estimated about 100,000 passports did not appear in the official figures because they had not yet been scanned on to the system. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, a whistleblower from the Passport Office estimated about 100,000 passports did not appear in the official figures because they had not yet been scanned on to the system. |
| The agency was in "total crisis", she said, adding that the emergency measures were "making things 10 times worse". | The agency was in "total crisis", she said, adding that the emergency measures were "making things 10 times worse". |
| People were being taken off their usual jobs and issuing passports with "a few days' training", she said, presenting security risks because they might not be able to spot a fraudulent application. | People were being taken off their usual jobs and issuing passports with "a few days' training", she said, presenting security risks because they might not be able to spot a fraudulent application. |
| She also said computers were crashing for up to half a day at a time. | She also said computers were crashing for up to half a day at a time. |
| Rejecting her claims, the Home Office said: "We receive thousands of applications every week with their numbers constantly changing. We aim to log all applications within 48 hours of receipt at which point they become active work in progress. | Rejecting her claims, the Home Office said: "We receive thousands of applications every week with their numbers constantly changing. We aim to log all applications within 48 hours of receipt at which point they become active work in progress. |
| "All staff examining passport applications receive appropriate training, including on policies and processes to identify suspected fraud. This is supported by supervision and stringent quality checks to prevent fraudulent passports being issued." | "All staff examining passport applications receive appropriate training, including on policies and processes to identify suspected fraud. This is supported by supervision and stringent quality checks to prevent fraudulent passports being issued." |