To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which consultants were employed by the (a) Identity and Passport Service and (b) her Department to examine and give advice on passport security and fraud detection and prevention in each of the last five years; what the (i) duration, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost was of each contract; what reports were submitted; and if she will make a statement. (151506)

[holding answer 23 July 2007]: IPS has not generally awarded specific consultancy contracts for advice on passport security, fraud detection and prevention. It has operated a model of engaging specialist contractors on an interim management basis to provide guidance and knowledge to supplement in-house expertise.

Two contracts were awarded in 2004 on a consultancy basis. These are in the following table: