Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether her Department will underwrite New Fair Deal for staff transferring from further education colleges to the private sector in the event that the admitting process to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts is not complete before the effective date of transfer of staff.

The application process is managed by the supplier and so no such assurance can be provided by the Department. As the scheme employer, the Department works proactively with suppliers supporting early applications being made to obtain admitted body status and to provide a scheme guarantee from the relevant Secretary of State in the Admissions Agreement expediently.

The Department also works with the supplier to ensure migration plans and post migration plans have a confirmed process for maintaining the pension status until the individuals are fully admitted.