The UK’s Passport Office is to be brought under the Home Office and be made accountable to Ministers, it was announced on Friday.
Home Secretary Theresa May announced the move after the number of passport and renewals soared this year reaching a peak of 550,000 in June causing delays for many.
The number has since been reduced to around 80,000 today, with the new move meaning the HMPO will be directly accountable to ministers.
May said: “On 12 June 2014 I informed the House that I had asked the Permanent Secretary to conduct a review to consider whether HMPO’s agency status should be removed. I have considered the review and relevant Cabinet Office guidance and decided that it should be brought into the Home Office and report directly to Ministers.
“As the events of the summer showed, it is essential that HMPO is run as efficiently as possible and is as accountable as possible. I also know that its hard-working staff are committed to delivering a high quality service to the public. I believe these changes will put them in a stronger position to do so.”
Thousands of passport applications were delayed back in June, with measures put in place to help families travel during the peak summer period.
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