Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there are any rules and guidance that prevent the sharing of an outcome of a security vetting with another government department for (a) an ambassadorial and (b) a head of mission senior civil servant appointment.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Statement provided by the Prime Minister on 20 April 2026 titled Security Vetting, Official Report, Column 24-25.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Lord Mandelson's Developed Vetting application was approved by National Security Vetting.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been appointed to national security-vetted government roles against the recommendation of United Kingdom Security Vetting in the last 5 years.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) provides a vetting service to customers. Accountability for individual appointments and the management of associated vetting risks remains with the relevant department. To ensure the continued effectiveness and integrity of the vetting process, on the 20th of April the Prime Minister requested a rapid review led by Sir Adrian Fulford into the entire developed vetting process. This includes instances where UKSV recommendations may have been superseded by employing departments.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the Cabinet Office discussed with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office whether Lord Mandelson, as a Privy Councillor, required UKSV security vetting.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the remarks given by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 21 April 2026, Official Report, Column 232.
Asked by: Damien Egan (Labour - Bristol North East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the transparency and accountability mechanisms in place for monitoring Capita’s administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.
The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the Cabinet Office monitors the contract through the application of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). As defined in Section 52(1) of the Procurement Act 2023, a KPI is a measure against which a supplier’s performance can be assessed throughout the life-cycle of a contract. By setting specific targets for the desired level of performance within the contract itself, the contracting authority can accurately measure and demonstrate the supplier’s progress.
Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already been applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
The Cabinet Office will continue to use all available commercial levers to hold Capita to account and ensure they deliver the contractual service levels.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department holds assessments relating to national security risks arising from the 2016 acquisition of Global Switch by Elegant Jubilee Ltd.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the evidence given by Paymaster General at the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee session on 28 January 2026, whether there is any provision in the contract awarded to Capita to administer the civil service pension scheme to allow the recoup of costs from that company for (a) loans and (b) compensation paid to individuals impacted by the delays to that scheme.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.
The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.
Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Capita has made lump sum payments to 8,979 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of April.
To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans typically up to £5,000 or £10,000 in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.
It should be noted that these loans are provided by the employer and not the Cabinet Office. There is no provision in the contract for cost recovery from Capita as the loan will be fully repaid directly by the member on receipt of their pension payment.
Interest will be paid on delayed benefits to avoid financial loss by members. In addition, the existing statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial losses, as well as distress and inconvenience caused, on a case-by-case basis to determine whether compensation is due. This ensures that any retiree who provides evidence of extra costs, such as bank penalties or interest charges caused by the delay, is fairly assessed. This process is run in accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.
Whilst there is no contractual mechanism to specifically recover compensation costs under consideration, there are significant and robust contractual performance indicators built into the contract and these include financial penalties for underperformance.
Furthermore, Capita remains subject to all SLAs within the contract. We are applying the full mechanism of service credits for performance failures, and we continue to explore all commercial avenues to hold them to account for the quality of their delivery.
The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the evidential basis was for the response from Tim Allan to the media on 11 September 2025, that the security vetting of Lord Mandelson was done by the FCDO in the normal way; and whether Tim Allan corresponded with others in Downing Street on this response.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on Security Vetting on the 20 April 2026, Official Report, Column 23-26
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent of 9 April 2026, to Question HL16074, on Prime Minister: USA, whether the Prime Minister was seated when viewing the presentation about Palantir’s work at the meeting in Washington, and whether Lord Mandelson was present with him at that time, and whether the Prime Minister asked questions about the work of Palantir further to the presentation.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.
Any contracts for any firm go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who first suggested to the Prime Minister that Peter Mandelson should be appointed as Ambassador to the United States.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.