Question
I thank the Minister not just for her statement but for the tone of her statement, which I am sure will be very much appreciated by many of my constituents, including Kathy, who has given 26 years of her life in service to the Ministry of Defence and the Prison Service, yet Capita’s failure means that her retirement has been blocked three times in just over a year. A fortnightly dashboard is welcome, but what guarantees can the Minister give that Kathy and thousands like her will receive their pension payments on time? Will the auditor’s report be published in full for MPs and the unions?
Answer
I am sorry to hear of Kathy’s experience. What has happened to her and many scheme members up and down the country is not right. As I have said, we will not be able to publish the audit report in full for legal and commercial reasons, but we will provide it confidentially to the PAC and PACAC for their scrutiny. The remedial adviser’s report recommended the rectification plan that we have put in place. That has only just been put into place. In the coming weeks, we will monitor whether it is working. If it is not, we will take further steps. Nothing is off the table.11% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (58/100)
The reply answers the second part of the question clearly. It states that the report will not be published in full, gives legal and commercial grounds for that, and says it will be shared confidentially with the PAC and PACAC. The first part, about whether pensioners will be paid on time, is only partly answered. It describes a rectification plan and a commitment to monitor it, but it gives no assurance on payment timing and relies on vague language about further action. A questioner would likely need to ask again for specific dates or commitments on payments.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What guarantees can the Minister give that Kathy and others in her position will receive their pension payments on time? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply describes a rectification plan, a commitment to monitor it in the coming weeks, and further steps if it fails, but it gives no guarantee that pensioners like Kathy will be paid on time. The mechanism is only loosely tied to payment timeliness, and 'nothing is off the table' is a vague gesture. |
| Will the auditor's report be published in full for MPs and the unions? | Addressed | Direct | The reply clearly declines full publication, giving a stated reason (legal and commercial grounds), and specifies the alternative of confidential provision to the PAC and PACAC, which fully answers whether the report will be published for MPs and unions. |