Question
I declare an interest, as I hold a civil service pension. I thank the Minister for her statement. Like other Members of the House, I have a number of constituents who provided years of service in the civil service. They have retired yet have had to wait months to be paid. Could the Minister say more about the pressure she is putting on Capita and the options for taking the whole matter in-house?
Answer
We have already withheld nearly £10 million in contractual payments, and Capita is voluntarily taking 10% less in its monthly payments. On bringing the service in-house, it is important that we get this right, do it at the right time and ensure that we pick the best model for the scheme, so that service members do not have to suffer any further. We are liaising with trade unions, pension experts and others to look at the options for different types of models, and I will return to the House when I have further updates on that.20% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (58/100)
The reply gives concrete information on the first part of the question: nearly £10 million in contractual payments has been withheld from Capita, and Capita is voluntarily taking 10% less in its monthly payments. The second part, on which in-house pension models the Government is considering, is only partly answered. The reply says the Government is talking to trade unions and pension experts about options, but it does not name any specific model and largely defers the substance to later updates. A member of the public would have a clear picture of the Capita pressure but would probably need to ask again for the specifics of the in-house options.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What pressure the Minister is putting on Capita over delays to civil service pension payments | Addressed | Direct | The reply names concrete pressure on Capita: nearly £10 million in contractual payments has already been withheld, and Capita is voluntarily taking 10% less in its monthly payments. |
| What options the Government is considering for bringing civil service pension administration in-house | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply says the Government is liaising with trade unions and pension experts to look at options for different types of models, but it never identifies which in-house models are under consideration; the statement on getting the timing and model right is platitudinous, and the promise to return with updates defers the substance. |