Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many ill-health civil service retirement cases remain unresolved as of 17 June.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and Gov.uk.
Capita is under a firm mandate to restore full service delivery to standard contractual levels by the end of June 2026. We are actively exploring the use of all available commercial and contractual levers and continue to withhold milestone payments for missed transition deliverables. All options remain on the table if they fail to meet the June deadline.
Capita were initially instructed to prioritise and clear the most urgent cases such as Death in Service and Ill-Health during February and March. While Capita previously assured us that performance standards for Death in Service and Ill-Health were being met by mid-March, recent information continues to demonstrate unacceptable delays in some ill-health retirement and death-in-service cases. We have urgently escalated this to Capita, who are actively investigating the underlying data and reasons for these continued delays.
As of 14 June, Ill-Health numbers outstanding are 431, of which 361 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed. In respect of Death in Service, numbers outstanding are 605, of which 574 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed.
Around 25,000 members currently await pension quotations from Capita, including outstanding historical cases left unprocessed by the previous administrator. Whilst we have mandated that Capita restore service levels by the end of June 2026, putting accepted quotes into payment requires sequential administrative steps, meaning the first actual payments will commence around late August or September.
Capita has issued lump sum payments to 16,776 retired members awaiting their regular pensions, whilst the scheme continues to pay approximately 730,000 existing pensioners on time. To alleviate immediate hardship, employers have issued £14.2 million in Transitional Support Loans to 2,612 members, alongside interest-free bridging loans ranging from £5,000 to £20,000. Members will fully repay these bridging loans upon receipt of their formal pension payments.
The scheme will automatically pay interest on delayed benefits to protect members from financial loss. The statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial loss, distress, and inconvenience on a case-by-case basis and is operated in strict accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil service pensioners were awaiting pensions quotations as of 17 June.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and Gov.uk.
Capita is under a firm mandate to restore full service delivery to standard contractual levels by the end of June 2026. We are actively exploring the use of all available commercial and contractual levers and continue to withhold milestone payments for missed transition deliverables. All options remain on the table if they fail to meet the June deadline.
Capita were initially instructed to prioritise and clear the most urgent cases such as Death in Service and Ill-Health during February and March. While Capita previously assured us that performance standards for Death in Service and Ill-Health were being met by mid-March, recent information continues to demonstrate unacceptable delays in some ill-health retirement and death-in-service cases. We have urgently escalated this to Capita, who are actively investigating the underlying data and reasons for these continued delays.
As of 14 June, Ill-Health numbers outstanding are 431, of which 361 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed. In respect of Death in Service, numbers outstanding are 605, of which 574 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed.
Around 25,000 members currently await pension quotations from Capita, including outstanding historical cases left unprocessed by the previous administrator. Whilst we have mandated that Capita restore service levels by the end of June 2026, putting accepted quotes into payment requires sequential administrative steps, meaning the first actual payments will commence around late August or September.
Capita has issued lump sum payments to 16,776 retired members awaiting their regular pensions, whilst the scheme continues to pay approximately 730,000 existing pensioners on time. To alleviate immediate hardship, employers have issued £14.2 million in Transitional Support Loans to 2,612 members, alongside interest-free bridging loans ranging from £5,000 to £20,000. Members will fully repay these bridging loans upon receipt of their formal pension payments.
The scheme will automatically pay interest on delayed benefits to protect members from financial loss. The statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial loss, distress, and inconvenience on a case-by-case basis and is operated in strict accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many death in service pensions remain outstanding and unpaid as of 17 June 2026.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and Gov.uk.
Capita is under a firm mandate to restore full service delivery to standard contractual levels by the end of June 2026. We are actively exploring the use of all available commercial and contractual levers and continue to withhold milestone payments for missed transition deliverables. All options remain on the table if they fail to meet the June deadline.
Capita were initially instructed to prioritise and clear the most urgent cases such as Death in Service and Ill-Health during February and March. While Capita previously assured us that performance standards for Death in Service and Ill-Health were being met by mid-March, recent information continues to demonstrate unacceptable delays in some ill-health retirement and death-in-service cases. We have urgently escalated this to Capita, who are actively investigating the underlying data and reasons for these continued delays.
As of 14 June, Ill-Health numbers outstanding are 431, of which 361 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed. In respect of Death in Service, numbers outstanding are 605, of which 574 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed.
Around 25,000 members currently await pension quotations from Capita, including outstanding historical cases left unprocessed by the previous administrator. Whilst we have mandated that Capita restore service levels by the end of June 2026, putting accepted quotes into payment requires sequential administrative steps, meaning the first actual payments will commence around late August or September.
Capita has issued lump sum payments to 16,776 retired members awaiting their regular pensions, whilst the scheme continues to pay approximately 730,000 existing pensioners on time. To alleviate immediate hardship, employers have issued £14.2 million in Transitional Support Loans to 2,612 members, alongside interest-free bridging loans ranging from £5,000 to £20,000. Members will fully repay these bridging loans upon receipt of their formal pension payments.
The scheme will automatically pay interest on delayed benefits to protect members from financial loss. The statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial loss, distress, and inconvenience on a case-by-case basis and is operated in strict accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Ministers were required to self-isolate on 21 July 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
This information is not held by the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Smart Freight system will be available for testing by road haulage drivers.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Further to the statement by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 23 September, details of external ministerial meetings are published on gov.uk
Regarding the 'Check an HGV is ready to cross the border' service (formerly known as 'Smart Freight'), I refer to the answer given to PQ 92707.
It is vital businesses, including those who rely on seasonal work, and workers prepare for the end of the Transition Period. That is why the Government has launched a public information campaign to ensure those affected are ready for the changes this will bring.The campaign uses a range of communication channels and events to help employers understand and prepare. Guidance for businesses is available on gov.uk/transition.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans for the Kent Access Permit to be (a) ready for trialling and (b) operational.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Further to my answer given to PQ92705 on 2 October 2020, the ‘Check an HGV is ready to cross the border’ service will be the mechanism for issuing Kent Access Permits. Government will soon publish its response to the consultation exercise regarding necessary legislative changes.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans for the Smart Freight facility to be (a) trialled and (b) operational.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Further to my answer given to PQ92705 on 2 October 2020, the ‘Check an HGV is ready to cross the border’ service will be the mechanism for issuing Kent Access Permits. Government will soon publish its response to the consultation exercise regarding necessary legislative changes.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of UK nationals working as contractors who have been replaced by specialists from overseas in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, what progress he has made on appointing the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Answered by Boris Johnson
Further to my Written Ministerial Statement of 20 January 2020, the Hon. Member for Bridgwater and West Somerset (Ian Liddell-Grainger) has also been appointed as a full member of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - Herne Bay and Sandwich)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether all payments of pensions payable to retired civil servants resident overseas are up to date; and whether the MyCSP mutual venture system and its associated information technology are working efficiently.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
MyCSP Ltd took over administration of the Civil Service pensioner payroll in September 2014. The majority of the 658,000 pensioners - 14,000 of them are overseas - have been paid accurately and on time since September.
During the transfer MyCSP unexpectedly inherited 5,579 cases from the previous supplier where payments had been delayed or missed. MyCSP has now cleared all but 740 of these. 109 of the remaining cases are overseas pensioners awaiting payments because new banking mandates need to be completed to allow processing by the new paying bank. MyCSP is working to clear the remaining cases where payments are due before Christmas (but are in some cases dependent on employers or pensioner members for the necessary information to do so). Where delayed payment is causing hardship MyCSP has been making emergency interim payments to members.
The recent service issues are not a result of the mutual joint-venture (MJV) model. In fact, the mutual joint venture has enabled investment in new technology to replace legacy systems. This transformation will allow MyCSP to deliver a wider range of services (including online services) to higher standards whilst almost halving the cost of pensions administration over 10 years.
Since mutualisation, MyCSP has improved productivity by 15% year-on-year, driven down staff absenteeism and has improved both staff engagement and customer satisfaction, despite inheriting legacy systems.