Paul Flynn MP says passport office in 'worse state ever'

The chief executive of HM Passport Office will go before a committee of MPs to face scrutiny over the backlog of passport applications.

Paul Pugh is expected to give the Home Affairs Select Committee a full explanation over long delays in handling applications.

Last week, Labour suggested there could be a half a million passports waiting to be processed.

The Home Office has said Home Secretary Theresa May recognised the "understandable concerns" about delays and was "determined to do everything possible, while maintaining the security of the passport, to speed up the system".

Mr Pugh has said there had been "exceptional" summer demand but that extra staff had been brought in to handle applications.

But Labour's Newport West MP Paul Flynn, who sits on the Home Affairs Select Committee, spoke to BBC Radio Wales and claimed the passport service was in the worst state it had ever been.