Contributions
1,226 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19 Inquiry Response CostsThe UK covid-19 inquiry is examining the UK’s response to and impact of the pandemic. The Government are fully committed to supporting the work of the covid-19 inquiry and to…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Payment SchemeIt was a privilege to work with my hon. Friend in Government. She was excellent to work with on this matter, and I am very grateful for all her contributions. Of course, I have…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsI am grateful to all the public servants in my hon. Friend’s constituency and indeed across the country, who frankly deserve better. On past retirement quotations and past…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right.06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsOn compensation, there is provision around interest. I would be very grateful if my hon. Friend could write to me about that specific case, and we will look into it.06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsI want to provide the House with an important update on the administration of the civil service pension scheme. Capita was awarded this contract in November 2023. It had two years…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsI am quite astonished by the shadow Minister’s contribution. The House should be in no doubt that the previous Government signed a 10-year contract in November 2023. That is the…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that these cases are harrowing. He is also right to say that there were huge issues—I am sure we will cover this on Wednesday—with MyCSP, the…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsTo take the hon. Lady’s final point first, yes, bereavement cases are being prioritised. Capita’s current working assumption is that the remaining backlog of over 6,700 quotations…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsI am more than happy to take on board what my hon. Friend has said about streamlining MPs’ interaction with the service. The Parliamentary Secretary has passed on many of these…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsAs ever, the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee makes very sensible points. I make it very clear from this Dispatch Box that Capita certainly…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsFirst, in line with the Government’s policy of looking across contracts of high value, as I set out in my statement, I think this contract is a prime candidate for outsourcing.…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsI am very sorry to hear about Caroline’s case. If the hon. Member is willing to write to me directly with the details, the Parliamentary Secretary will gladly look into that case.06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsI am very sorry to hear about my hon. Friend’s constituent; it is a tragedy that she passed away only yesterday. I would be glad if she wrote to me about that particular case. The…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsOn the right hon. Gentleman’s first point, we will look specifically at why that was the case. It should not have taken four-and-a-half months for him to receive a reply. The…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsYes. First of all, the interest-free loans introduced earlier in the year are important, but I know they are not suitable or the choice for every beneficiary under the scheme.…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsWell, quite. I am grateful to the hon. Lady, who I believe has had a few virtual surgeries. She has been in contact with my office and has a number of ongoing cases—I counted…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsYes, it should absolutely be prioritising bereavement cases and people in the position my hon. Friend’s constituent finds himself in at the age of just 46. As I have said, Capita…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsThe hon. Gentleman will be aware from my statement that £9.9 million has been withheld from Capita. I will continue, where milestones are— [ Interruption. ] He makes a valid…06 Jul 2026HANSARD Civil Service PensionsLooking forward, the Government have already announced their new public interest test to end outsourcing by default. From April next year, all contracts over £1 million have to be…06 Jul 2026