Civil Service Pensions

Debate between Sarah Coombes and Nick Thomas-Symonds

Monday 6th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

I know that the hon. Gentleman has looked carefully at a number of these things. The point of the public interest test is to end outsourcing by default, but he is right that there is an additional cross-governmental issue: the management of contracts. That is something that I have certainly been thinking about looking at in the Cabinet Office, and the hon. Gentleman is correct to say that we need to look at it across the board.

[Sarah Coombes (West Bromwich) (Lab)]

Angela, from Great Barr, worked for the civil service for 42 years. She was looking forward to retirement but it became a nightmare when, despite her long and loyal service, she could not get her pension from Capita for six long months, causing her huge distress. Will the Minister commit to holding Capita to account every single day, and will he make sure that we remember this if the company ever applies for public contracts again?

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

I am sorry to hear about the experience of my hon. Friend’s constituent; she can be assured that we will continue absolutely to hold Capita robustly to account every day.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Coombes and Nick Thomas-Symonds

Thursday 24th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

First, I express my sympathy and, I am sure, that of the whole House to Hazel in respect of what she has been through. The assurance I give is that this Government will act at pace. That is what we did in putting the first set of regulations in place by 24 August last year and by putting the second set of regulations in place by 31 March this year. I continue to stand ready to help and support IBCA, which is operationally independent, in any way that I can to speed up the payments.

[Sarah Coombes (West Bromwich) (Lab)]

2. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reform public services.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Coombes and Nick Thomas-Symonds

Thursday 25th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) (Lab)]

21. What steps he is taking to help ensure high standards of propriety in public life.

[The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Nick Thomas-Symonds)]

The sleaze of the previous Government eroded trust in politics and the public’s belief in our political system. The Prime Minister’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity in public life is clear. He met the independent adviser on Ministers’ interests on his first day in office. This Government are committed to ensuring high standards, including by establishing an ethics and integrity commission, reforming the business appointment rules and appropriately empowering the independent adviser on Ministers’ interests.

[Sarah Coombes]

Just 49% of people in my constituency of West Bromwich voted in the recent election. That came as no surprise to me, because I had conversation after conversation with people who had lost trust in politicians because of the previous Government’s rule breaking and scandals. What steps are the new Labour Government taking to restore trust and ensure that politics can once again be a force for good?

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

This Government will restore trust in politics by delivering for the public. As I have indicated, the Cabinet Office will support the development of a new ethics and integrity commission to deliver a much-needed reset on standards in public life. We will also review and update post-Government employment rules and support the Prime Minister as he issues a new ministerial code and grants the independent adviser the powers and support that he needs.