Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Capita to resolve the IT issue affecting the Natural England Voluntary Exit Scheme 2025.

The Department recognises the concerns of former employees who left under the Voluntary Exit Scheme and continue to experience difficulties accessing the pension scheme portal. Unfortunately, these issues are not specific to Natural England and are affecting Civil Service Pension Scheme members more widely. While resolution of the technical issues sits outside Defra’s direct control, the department is working closely with Capita to seek resolution as quickly as possible.