Written Statements
(1 day, 21 hours ago)
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Civil Service Pension Scheme
(1 day, 21 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Sally Jameson)
I am providing the House with an update on the administration of the civil service pension scheme. Following Capita’s failure to meet its commitment to fully restore the scheme to contractual levels by the end of June, Capita’s executive leadership set itself two targets: clearing stock cases by 1 September 2026, and processing cases within key performance indicators from 30 September 2026.
Capita has reported meeting its self-imposed 1 September target across five priority areas: bereavement, death in service, ill health retirement, retirement payments, and retirement quotes, for cases it categorises as workable stock. Although this step is noted, meeting a milestone on workable stock alone is not sufficient progress and does not constitute full service recovery. Overall performance remains unacceptable, and far too many scheme members continue to face uncertainty while waiting for their cases to be resolved. The Government continue to hold Capita firmly to account using all commercial levers available to it. I will also continue work on actively shaping a long-term strategy to bring this pension scheme back in-house.
I intend to provide the House with a substantive update in October following the conclusion of the technical audit and report from the remedial adviser.
[HCWS324]
Whistleblowing in Defence
(1 day, 21 hours ago)
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The Minister for Veterans and People (Mr Calvin Bailey)
During passage of the Armed Forces Commissioner Act 2025, the Government committed to a review into whistleblowing in defence. I am pleased to confirm that this work is now complete, and I am placing a copy of the final report in the Library of the House.
This ministerial-led review considered the effectiveness of existing policies and procedures for raising concerns, with a focus on the armed forces. It examined the current policy landscape, how effectively it is communicated, and whether service personnel understand the protections that may be available to them when they raise concerns, including those relating to serious wrongdoing.
The review evaluated the consistency and accessibility of whistleblowing procedures across the armed forces and compared these with civilian frameworks, recognising that service personnel currently fall outside the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 in terms of legislation, but its provisions are extended to service personnel in policy.
The review concluded that the evidence does not point to a structural or legal deficit in the current framework. The issues identified are about how the system operates in practice and that implementation of the recommendations will focus on practical improvements to deliver the required clarity, accessibility, and trust.
Engagement with service personnel was at the heart of this work. The review adopted a best practice approach and drew on a range of consultation mechanisms to ensure the voices of those working in defence were heard clearly.
This review represents an important opportunity to strengthen protections for those who work in at all levels in the organisation, and to ensure that defence continues to foster a culture of accountability, transparency and trust.
The attachment “Whistleblowing in Defence Review (20260715-WBR Final Report-for external release.pdf)” can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2026-09-09/HCWS321/
[HCWS321]
Energy Prices Act 2022: Energy Scheme Expenditure
(1 day, 21 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ms Polly Billington)
I am making this statement to update hon. Members, in line with the requirement for quarterly reporting to Parliament under the Energy Prices Act 2022, on expenditure incurred under section 13 of that Act. Expenditure incurred Expenditure incurred between 1 April to 30 June 2026 RO to Exchequer Scheme (GB) £520,709,288.19 Note: The expenditure figures above reflect spend in Great Britain only, given that the territorial extent of the RO to Exchequer scheme is England, Scotland and Wales. Energy Affordability Schemes Actual Cumulative Expenditure incurred up to and including 30th June 2026 (£m) Status Energy Bills Support Scheme GB & NI 11,874.00 Closed Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding 59.47 Closed Energy Price Guarantee GB & NI 24,075.00 Closed Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment 401.20 Closed Energy Bills Relief Scheme GB & NI 7,533.37 Closed Energy Bills Discount Scheme GB & NI 481.79 Closed Energy Bills Discount Scheme Heat Networks GB & NI 113.38 Closed Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment 62.30 Closed RO to Exchequer (GB) 520.71 Open Total (£ billion) £45.1 billion 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2029-30 2030-31 Exchequer Impact +0m -2,580m -2,100m -2,195m +0m +0m
This quarterly report on energy scheme expenditure is required under section 14 of the Act and covers the period from 1 April to 30 June 2026.
The renewables obligation to Exchequer measure was announced at autumn Budget 2025 as part of the Government’s package to reduce energy bills. The scheme came into effect on 1 April 2026 and will run for three years. It removes 75% of renewables obligation costs from domestic electricity bills, with these costs instead funded by the Exchequer.
The expenditure reported below relates to the operation of this existing scheme.
This statement also sets out the final cumulative expenditure incurred under former energy affordability schemes. These figures are reported alongside current expenditure to provide hon. Members with a complete picture of expenditure incurred by successive Governments using these powers.
All former energy affordability schemes have now closed, and their expenditure positions have been fully reconciled. The cumulative figure for the energy bills discount scheme includes a late claim, which has since been settled. Previous cumulative figures reflected the best information available while reconciliation and closure activity remained ongoing.
The figures in the table do not include administrative or running costs.
Future costs
The Budget 2025 costings confirm the expected future cost of the policy as: Exchequer impact (£m).
[HCWS323]
Tackling Inequality
(1 day, 21 hours ago)
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The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)
I wish to update the House that today I am announcing structural changes to how this Government tackle entrenched inequality, bringing the drive to reduce socioeconomic and class disadvantage into the very heart of Government while streamlining our public bodies.
Following the recent cross-Government review of arm’s length bodies, which aimed to streamline operations and enhance ministerial accountability, I have decided to move the focus on social mobility in-house, and close the Social Mobility Commission as part of this wider programme of reform.
This decision marks a pivotal step in embedding a focus on socioeconomic inequality into the heart of Government. By winding up the SMC and opening a new class unit in Government, we will redirect vital resources and expertise to focus on tackling class and socioeconomic disadvantage. Sitting alongside existing units in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, this new unit will focus on improving the lives of low-income families and supporting disadvantaged communities, alongside our Government’s wider work on rooting out child poverty and supporting social cohesion.
Crucially, the unit will lead the enactment of the socioeconomic duty, a new power in the Equality Act that will legally require public bodies to consider how to improve the lives of lower-income families as part of decisions around issues such as transport, services and budgets. Officials will work closely with social cohesion, place and regional inequalities teams in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and as part of the Government’s devolution agenda.
Formal closure of the SMC will be achieved through primary legislation, when parliamentary time and consideration allows. In the interim period, the SMC will focus solely on delivering its statutory duties, including its annual “State of the nation” report, while we begin a staged transition of resources to new priorities.
The Government recognise the importance of external scrutiny of such an important agenda and will explore options to make sure that continues.
Officials are currently working through implementation to ensure a smooth, staged transition, and all changes will be carried out with appropriate consultation and full support for affected staff.
This reform ensures that we put the fight against disadvantage right where it belongs: at the heart of Government. By shifting energy and resources from oversight to direct delivery, we are breaking down the barriers to opportunity, returning power to local communities, and ensuring that a person’s background no longer determines what they can achieve.
[HCWS322]