Question
Capita has missed its deadlines and failed in its obligations to my constituents. Supposed priority death-in-service cases, such as Derek’s, are unresolved, and people have been left grieving for over a year without having received what they are entitled to. Quotes such as Anne’s, who retired from the Scottish Prison Service nearly seven months ago, have still not been provided, and annual benefit statements have been delayed, leaving people concerned that they will not be paid accurately when they finally are paid. We should insource this scheme. I appreciate the Minister putting that option on the table, but my constituents deserve transparency as well as action. If not the full report, will the Minister publish just the recommendations from the independent remedial adviser’s report?
Answer
My hon. Friend has raised a number of issues related to Capita and fought for his constituents on many occasions in the Chamber. As I set out, it will not be possible to publish the full remedial adviser’s report for legal and commercial reasons. However, we will be providing it confidentially to the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. I will discuss with officials the possibility of bringing out a smaller version of it that can be made public, but the rectification plan that we have put in place is based on the recommendations of the remedial adviser.
Verdict: AMBER (27/100)
The reply explains clearly why the full report will not be published, citing legal and commercial reasons, and says it will go confidentially to two committees. It does not state whether the recommendations themselves will be made public. The only route to public disclosure is a smaller version that the Minister will merely 'discuss with officials', which is a non-committal undertaking. The question was therefore only partly answered, and the core point about publishing the recommendations remains hedged, so the asker would likely need to follow up for a specific commitment.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister publish the recommendations from the independent remedial adviser's report, if the full report is not to be published? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply confirms the full report will not be published, giving legal and commercial reasons, and says it will go confidentially to two committees. It never states whether the recommendations themselves will be published. The only route to public disclosure is a smaller version that the Minister will merely 'discuss with officials', which is a noncommittal commitment, and statement 5 says the plan is based on the recommendations without publishing them. |