Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many discussions Ministers in her Department had in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022 with the senior management of Teleperformance on plans for responding to the expected increase in passport renewal applications that would result from the re-opening of the travel industry and easing of covid-related lockdown restrictions.

Her Majesty’s Passport Office has been clear of its performance requirements of suppliers ahead of the unprecedented 9.5 million passport applications that are expected in 2022.

Teleperformance, who operate the Passport Adviceline, have not been meeting the required standard, and Ministerial feedback has been shared with them by senior officials as part of the regular supplier engagement. As part of their response, by mid-June Teleperformance will have added a further 500 call agents compared to their position in mid-April.