To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people worked for the Identity and Passport Service (a) in 2006 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many are projected to work for it in 2015. (318706)

As published in the 2006-07 Annual Report, the average number of employees on the Agency payroll during the year ending 31 March 2007 was 3,619

The latest published figures are also available in the 2008-09 Annual Report which shows that the average number of employees on the Agency payroll during that year was 4,078. This figure includes the GRO staff who joined the Agency from 1 April 2008.

IPS does not have a projected headcount for 2015.