THE Passport Office will be reabsorbed by the Home Office, Home Secretary Theresa May announced yesterday

Following two reviews and demands from the influential Home Affairs Select Committee, HM Passport Office (HMPO) will cease to be an executive agency from October 1, Ms May confirmed.

It was established as an agency in May 2013, but earlier this year it was accused of putting holidaymakers’ summer plans in jeopardy as it struggled to cope a 550,000 backlog of applications.