The Home Office Annual report for 2012/13, published on the 4th July 2013 forecasts 350,000 additional passport applications for the Passport Office to process once the Department took over responsibility for overseas applications in March 2014

In the Queen’s Speech Home Affairs debate on Tuesday, the Home Secretary described the increase in demand as ‘unprecedented’, whilst the Immigration Minister, James Brokenshire, said the level of demand was ‘above forecast’.

Ministers now admit the Passport Office is processing 350,000 more applications and that this is one of the causes for the backlog. This was, in fact, forecast 12 months ago.

Responding to the detail in the Home Office Annual Report, Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary said:

“The Government has serious questions to answer. Not only are Home Office ministers presiding over a Department in total chaos, we now find they have been spinning people a line that increased demand has taken everyone by surprise.

“This report shows that the Home Office knew to expect over 350,000 more applications as a result of bringing in passport processing from overseas. Yet the Home Office has cut staff substantially over the last few years. A lack of planning and competence has caused chaos for thousands of people and yet minsters refuse to own up to the real reasons behind it.

“The Home Office must now publish all the information and advice they had in the lead up to this crisis to reassure the public that all concerns about the passport application process are being addressed.”