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| Home Office takes charge of passports | Home Office takes charge of passports |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK's Passport Office is to be brought under Home Office control and made accountable to ministers, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. | The UK's Passport Office is to be brought under Home Office control and made accountable to ministers, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. |
| The decision follows a summer which saw thousands of holidaymakers affected by a backlog in applications, which peaked at 537,663 in late June. | The decision follows a summer which saw thousands of holidaymakers affected by a backlog in applications, which peaked at 537,663 in late June. |
| The changes mean the Passport Office's chief executive Paul Pugh will be replaced. | The changes mean the Passport Office's chief executive Paul Pugh will be replaced. |
| He will remain until a successor - working as director general - is named. | He will remain until a successor - working as director general - is named. |
| Mrs May had been forced to introduce a number of emergency measures to tackle the backlog, which is now around 80,000. | Mrs May had been forced to introduce a number of emergency measures to tackle the backlog, which is now around 80,000. |
| But earlier this month, the Home Affairs Committee said passport applicants who paid more than £30 extra for a "fast-track" service had been "exploited" and should receive a refund. | But earlier this month, the Home Affairs Committee said passport applicants who paid more than £30 extra for a "fast-track" service had been "exploited" and should receive a refund. |
| Announcing the changes, Mrs May said: "As the events of the summer showed, it is essential that HMPO is run as efficiently as possible and is as accountable as possible." | Announcing the changes, Mrs May said: "As the events of the summer showed, it is essential that HMPO is run as efficiently as possible and is as accountable as possible." |
| The move to the Home Office will take effect from 1 October. | The move to the Home Office will take effect from 1 October. |
| 'No more privatisation' | |
| Speaking to MPs earlier this year, Mr Pugh denied union claims that the closure of 22 passport centres and the loss of 550 jobs - as well as the closure of the overseas units - had caused the crisis. | Speaking to MPs earlier this year, Mr Pugh denied union claims that the closure of 22 passport centres and the loss of 550 jobs - as well as the closure of the overseas units - had caused the crisis. |
| The PCS union, which represents civil servants, described the news as welcome "if it means the jobs we've called for, equal pay for staff and no more privatisation". | The PCS union, which represents civil servants, described the news as welcome "if it means the jobs we've called for, equal pay for staff and no more privatisation". |
| Earlier this month, the Home Affairs Committee said the Passport Office should lose its agency status and be brought under direct ministerial control following an "appalling series of failures". | Earlier this month, the Home Affairs Committee said the Passport Office should lose its agency status and be brought under direct ministerial control following an "appalling series of failures". |
| The Home Office also said it is reviewing the emergency measures introduced at the height of the crisis: |