To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the procedure for returning expired passports to their holders in order to reduce the risk of identity theft. (189031)

The Secure Delivery service, which is used by the Identity and Passport Service to send out new passports, is available for passport applicants to have their expired passports returned to them. Applicants are encouraged to opt for this service, for which a fee of £3 is charged. Where this service is not chosen, expired passports are returned by second class post, the cost of which is included in the application fee. All expired passports are cancelled before being returned. These arrangements are kept under review.