To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Identity and Passport Service has made any payments to (a) political consultancies, (b) external public relations firms and (c) public affairs firms since its establishment. (305108)

Since its establishment, the Identity and Passport Service has made payments to one public relations company who were engaged to work on passport campaigns. This contract expired in 2008 and has not been renewed. IPS has not made any payments to political consultancies or public affairs companies.