Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to assess the impact on Gateshead of the decision to choose Gemalto to produce the new British passports; and if so, how they intend to ensure that the community in Gateshead is not "cast aside" (in the terms outlined in their 2017 Manifesto).

The next contract for the design, manufacture, and personalisation of UK passports has yet to be awarded.

It is for all potential suppliers to determine how to best deploy their resources to meet their business need. The incumbent supplier has publicly stated that it will bid for other work to help protect jobs after the current passport contract ends.