Passport delays could take place this summer amid damning report

This comes amid a damning report which revealed that thousands of passport applicants were sorely let down by "unacceptable delays" last year.

MPs who are part of the Public Accounts Committee found that many were unable to travel for family emergencies while many others lost money because of cancelled trips.

The Committee's report said "confusion and frustration of customers” was exacerbated by how the Passport Office tracked processing times as well the standards of contractors.

(PA) MP concerns come as strikes from Passport Office workers take place (Image: PA)

The issue was made worse because of how demand for passports collapsed at the start of the Covid Pandemic in the UK.

Passport Office figures revealed that there were 7.2 million applications in the first nine months of 2022, a 24% rise from 2019.

Around 95% of applicants received their passports within the stated 10-week time frame but around 360,000 people experienced "unacceptable delays”.

The committee added that Passport Office must successfully implement a digital transformation programme to “manage the demand it faces rather than just reacting to it”.

However, one MP was concerned, adding that similar scenes could plague holiday goers this year.

MP Nick Smith warns Passport handling delays could ruin UK holidays again

Labour MP Nick Smith, who chaired the committee alongside the SNP's Peter Grant, said that people were "forced to fork out fees" for express services because of the delays.

He added that the delays became “the number one casework issue in my office."

“I’m concerned that a failure to upgrade their clunky system may result in similar scenes this year.”

(PA) MPs are 'concerned' if the Passport Office understands how much it has to improve (Image: PA)

Grant added: Passport Office staff did the best they could but they were fighting a losing battle against antiquated processes and poor planning.

“These failings resulted in misery for 360,000 people whose passports experienced severe delays.

“It’s astonishing that even today the Passport Office hasn’t attempted to find out how many of these people had to cancel holidays or were unable to travel for family weddings or other lifetime occasions.

“This has given the committee real concern as to whether the Passport Office really understands how much it needs to improve.”

Will strike action affect how long it takes me to renew my passport?

Strike action has also been launched by the members of the PCS union over pay and working conditions with walkouts taking place at Passport processing centres across the country.

While the strikes could have an impact on processing throughout the following months, the UK Government has assured there will be no changes to the 10-week rule.

Suella Braverman said: "Customers should continue to allow 10 weeks, and I urge people to apply in good time, not at the last minute, to avoid delays".

Passport Office strike action is taking place between April 3 and 28 in Glasgow, Durham, Liverpool, Southport, Peterborough, London, Newport and Belfast, according to PCS.