Question
Let us not sugar-coat this: the contract has been a complete flop. Yes, it was awarded under a past Government, but now it is under the current Government—but of course the Prime Minister is setting the standard of not playing the blame game, although I have heard a lot of that today. What my constituents want to hear is when this will be sorted out. Ministers have talked about a recovery plan in April—fail. They talked about a recovery plan in June—fail. They talked about a recovery plan in September —fail. There has been failure after failure after failure. Will the Minister answer the question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (Mike Wood), and tell us whether Capita will be given any other Government contracts? Will my constituents be compensated? This Government wanted to be in government, so now that they are, may I ask when the Minister and the Government will take responsibility for this, take control of the contract, and get it sorted out, because my constituents are suffering?
Answer
I set out in my statement how we are taking responsibility, holding Capita to account and ensuring that it fulfils its contractual obligations. For legal and commercial reasons, I cannot discuss other Government contracts in the House right now, or who might be subject to debarment under the new procurement law—I made that clear in response to earlier questions. We are now moving to a member-led approach and dealing with the most complex cases first. We will be able to see that on the fortnightly update to the website, where members will be able to see cases going down. We will mark progress against that by looking at the cases on the website and the updates that Capita sends me, and by seeing the improvements. If those improvements do not start to materialise in the coming weeks, I will return to the House with what further actions we may take.
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The minister clearly declined to discuss Capita's other government contracts and gave reasons for doing so, and said the Government is taking responsibility and holding Capita to account, including a new member-led approach that deals with the most complex cases first. The reply did not address compensation for affected constituents at all. On timing for resolving the contract, it mostly pointed back to earlier answers and offered only a vague 'coming weeks' and fortnightly website updates, with no firm date, so the questioner would likely need to ask again for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Capita will be given any other Government contracts. | Addressed | Direct | The minister directly declines to discuss other Government contracts for Capita and gives a stated reason (legal and commercial constraints, and debarment under the new procurement law), which answers the item as a refusal with reasons. |
| Whether the Government will compensate the constituents affected by the contract. | Not Addressed | Generic | Nothing in the reply mentions compensation for affected constituents; the closest statement concerns holding Capita to account and enforcing contractual obligations, which is a different matter. |
| When the Government will get the contract sorted out. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The timing answer is largely a referral back to earlier replies, with only a loose timeframe ('the coming weeks') and fortnightly website updates, and no firm date for resolving the contract. |
| Whether the Government will take control of the contract and take responsibility for it. | Addressed | Direct | The minister states that the Government is taking responsibility and holding Capita to account, and names a concrete change in approach (a member-led approach dealing with the most complex cases first), which answers whether the Government will take responsibility for the contract. |