Question
I thank the Minister for her robust work in this area. Capita’s handling of the civil service pension is nothing short of a disgrace. I have seen people taking out loans, falling into debt, having bailiffs sent to their houses and suffering serious mental distress because of this sham. That cannot be how we treat people who have dedicated their lives to public service. While I welcome today’s statement, the Government changes and the much-needed action that the Minister is taking, my constituents want Capita to face consequences. What consequences has Capita already faced? Will she guarantee that further failure will mean further consequences?
Answer
I agree with my hon. Friend: Capita has been abysmal, as I have said a few times now. It is for that reason that my predecessors in the role held back nearly £10 million in contractual payments to Capita—a move that I supported. Capita, on a voluntary basis, is now receiving 10% less on its monthly payments because it recognises that its service is wholly inadequate. All other options remain on the table. I will monitor the outcome of the new rectification plan on a fortnightly basis and return to this House if it is not good enough.
Verdict: AMBER (62/100)
The reply clearly answers the first part of the question, naming two concrete consequences Capita has already faced: nearly £10 million in contractual payments withheld by predecessors, and a voluntary 10% reduction in its monthly payments. It only partly answers the second part, which asked what would follow if performance failed again. It says all other options remain on the table, commits to fortnightly monitoring, and promises to return to the House, but it does not commit to a specific further consequence. A member would likely need to ask again for that.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What consequences Capita has already faced for its handling of the civil service pension | Addressed | Direct | The reply names two concrete consequences Capita has already faced: nearly £10 million in contractual payments was held back by predecessors, and Capita is now voluntarily receiving 10% less on its monthly payments. |
| Whether the Government will guarantee that further failure by Capita will result in further consequences for the company | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply does not explicitly guarantee further consequences for further failure, but it says all other options remain on the table, commits to fortnightly monitoring of the rectification plan, and promises to return to the House if performance is not good enough, which implies further action without fully confirming it. |