Staff cuts could increase 700,000 passport backlog

HOLIDAY travel chaos could worsen this summer as clearing the UK's passport backlog may take longer than expected.

- Martyn Brown

Analysis shows plans to cut Passport Office staff would mean 45,000 fewer passports being processed every week.

The agency has roughly 700,000 applications outstanding and delays have already forced the cancellation of family holidays.

Earlier this month the Government said it wanted to slash around 91,000 - one fifth - of Civil Service jobs.