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| Passports backlog: Ministers block relaxation of checks to deal with delays | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Ministers have stepped in to prevent officials relaxing checks on overseas applicants for British passports as they scramble to deal with a backlog of at least 30,000 applications. | Ministers have stepped in to prevent officials relaxing checks on overseas applicants for British passports as they scramble to deal with a backlog of at least 30,000 applications. |
| The Guardian published details of a leaked briefing note issued to HM Passport Office staff in Liverpool, Durham and Belfast instructing them to ease some checks in an attempt to speed up turnaround times. | The Guardian published details of a leaked briefing note issued to HM Passport Office staff in Liverpool, Durham and Belfast instructing them to ease some checks in an attempt to speed up turnaround times. |
| But in a terse statement, the Home Office said that ministers had not been informed of the note and had demanded that it should be rescinded. | But in a terse statement, the Home Office said that ministers had not been informed of the note and had demanded that it should be rescinded. |
| “Ministers were unaware of this document and have instructed HM Passport Office to withdraw it immediately,” a spokesman said. | “Ministers were unaware of this document and have instructed HM Passport Office to withdraw it immediately,” a spokesman said. |
| The disclosure is a further embarrassment for the Government after David Cameron came under fire at Prime Minister's Questions over the build-up of tens of thousands of applications which had lain waiting for three weeks or longer. | The disclosure is a further embarrassment for the Government after David Cameron came under fire at Prime Minister's Questions over the build-up of tens of thousands of applications which had lain waiting for three weeks or longer. |
| The briefing note, posted on The Guardian website, allows staff to drop checks on counter-signatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants. | The briefing note, posted on The Guardian website, allows staff to drop checks on counter-signatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants. |
| “The changes are focused on achieving the right balance between customer service, public protection and organisational requirements,” it states. | “The changes are focused on achieving the right balance between customer service, public protection and organisational requirements,” it states. |
| “These changes are being published now in light of the need to speed up turnaround times.” | “These changes are being published now in light of the need to speed up turnaround times.” |
| Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the briefing showed the Government was in denial about the state of the crisis. | Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the briefing showed the Government was in denial about the state of the crisis. |
| “This is seriously chaotic,” she told The Guardian. “If this is what the Prime Minister meant by getting a grip with the situation, he needs to think again.” | “This is seriously chaotic,” she told The Guardian. “If this is what the Prime Minister meant by getting a grip with the situation, he needs to think again.” |
| Earlier, it was announced that new passport offices were to be opened in an effort to get rid of the backlog of applications ahead of the great summer getaway. | Earlier, it was announced that new passport offices were to be opened in an effort to get rid of the backlog of applications ahead of the great summer getaway. |
| Ministers blamed a surge in applications since the start of 2014, which have pushed numbers up to a 12 year high, and said the Passport Office was putting more staff and resources into dealing with the problem. | Ministers blamed a surge in applications since the start of 2014, which have pushed numbers up to a 12 year high, and said the Passport Office was putting more staff and resources into dealing with the problem. |
| But Labour leader Ed Miliband said tens of thousands of families were facing the possible cancellation of their holidays and called on ministers to “get a grip”. | But Labour leader Ed Miliband said tens of thousands of families were facing the possible cancellation of their holidays and called on ministers to “get a grip”. |