Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reports he has received on delays and poor quality in the provision by Gemalto of passports and other products in countries abroad; what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's decision to place a contract with Gemalto UK Ltd for the production of the new British passport of such delays and quality issues; and if he will make a statement.

Robust contractual demands and strict governance are in place for the design, manufacture, and personalisation of the new UK passport.

The decision to award the passport contract to Gemalto was determined through a rigorous and independent assessment of their bid. Gemalto achieved full marks in multiple areas of their solution, including security and technology, and clearly demonstrated how they would be able to meet our timetable for introducing the new passport from late-2019. Their bid was supported by unanimously positive references from foreign governments and testimony of reliable past performance.