Question
Several of my constituents are in financial hardship as a result of Capita’s failings. This appalling company has even sent out financial statements and letters with figures deliberately obscured so that former civil servants do not know what they are entitled to. MPs across the House have clearly lost confidence in Capita, so will the Minister agree for the Cabinet Office itself to set up a hotline for MPs to raise cases and hold regular surgeries so that we can ensure that our former civil servant constituents get the money that they are entitled to?
Answer
I appreciate the points that the hon. Gentleman raised. The Cabinet Office is working with Capita on existing cases from MPs’ surgeries. The only hesitancy I would have is that the priority is to make sure that the service Capita is providing is improving. I could put lots more resources into this, but unless Capita is able to provide answers, produce a quote, and deliver people’s pensions, we will not see an improvement in the output that people are getting. We will absolutely keep under consideration what more we can do to help people, but I really want to hold Capita’s feet to the fire on this rectification plan so that we can get to a position where the surgeries are not needed any more because people are getting what they deserve.14% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The reply gives a clear answer on whether regular MP surgeries will be held. It says the Cabinet Office is already working with Capita on constituency cases raised through MPs' surgeries, and it explains that more resources will not be added until Capita improves its delivery. The question about a dedicated hotline for MPs is not answered: the reply never mentions one, and its only commitment is to keep further options under consideration. The reply is therefore only partly responsive overall, and an MP asking about the hotline would likely need to follow up.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Cabinet Office set up a hotline for MPs to raise cases on behalf of former civil servant constituents affected by Capita's administration failings? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply never mentions a hotline or any dedicated channel for MPs. It describes existing work with Capita on MPs' surgery cases and says more resources would not help until Capita improves, which implicitly declines extra resourcing. It then only commits to 'keep under consideration' what more can be done, so the hotline question is not clearly answered. |
| Will the Cabinet Office hold regular surgeries for MPs to raise cases on behalf of former civil servant constituents affected by Capita's administration failings? | Addressed | Direct | The reply states that the Cabinet Office is already working with Capita on cases raised through MPs' surgeries, and it explains with a reason (Capita must first deliver and improve) why it is not adding more resources. Together these give a clear, reasoned answer on whether regular MP surgeries will be held. |