Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to help resolve issues with civil service pension scheme processing at Capita.
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 8,747 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.
Capita prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. The same position was reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March.
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.
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: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the number of households in fuel poverty who live in properties that do not have loft insulation.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The latest annual fuel poverty statistics estimate that around 873,000 households in England were in fuel poverty in 2025 and lived in properties with under 125 mm of loft insulation, equivalent to a fuel poverty rate of 13.3% for this group. This compares with a rate of fuel poverty of around 7.8% (1.17 million households) among households with 125 mm or more of loft insulation, and 9% (316,000 households) among households where loft insulation is not applicable.
These estimates are produced under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric and are published in Table 17 of the Fuel poverty detailed tables 2026 (2025 data).
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to incentivise the installation of insulation to reduce private rented sector tenants’ energy bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan will cut bills, with an offer for every household, whether they own their home, rent privately, or live in social housing. We will reach up to five million homes by 2030, through direct support for those on low incomes and in fuel poverty, grants and innovative low-interest finance available to all.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is accessible to those living in privately rented accommodation, subject to eligibility. We are also standing up for renters through our new minimum energy efficiency standards in the private and social rented sectors, which will lift around 650,000 households out of fuel poverty.
From 1 October 2030, private rented homes must meet the required standard, or have a valid exemption registered in order to be let.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking in the Warm Homes Plan to support insulation upgrades for fuel-poor households in the private rented sector.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan will cut bills, with an offer for every household, whether they own their home, rent privately, or live in social housing. We will reach up to five million homes by 2030, through direct support for those on low incomes and in fuel poverty, grants and innovative low-interest finance available to all.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is accessible to those living in privately rented accommodation, subject to eligibility. We are also standing up for renters through our new minimum energy efficiency standards in the private and social rented sectors, which will lift around 650,000 households out of fuel poverty.
From 1 October 2030, private rented homes must meet the required standard, or have a valid exemption registered in order to be let.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to Question 113276, and with reference to her Department's press release entitled New international coalition launched to end violence against women and girls globally published on 2 December 2025, how commitments made to tackling online abuse of women and girls in the press release will be funded.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers have committed to a new project on Preventing Technology-Facilitated Violence against Women and Girls to be launched this year. Final budget allocations for this and other work in the VAWG portfolio will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the potential impact on local authorities of families remaining on temporary immigration status for up to 10 or 15 years.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
From 8 April 2026, the English language requirement for settlement will be raised from level B1 to level B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for most routes that currently require B1. This increase will take effect on 26 March 2027, allowing those already on a pathway to settlement a 12-month period in which to undertake any necessary learning or preparation. We believe this will strengthen long-term integration outcomes.
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on changes to the qualifying residence period for settlement; and the proposal for those working in roles below RQF level 6 to have a 15-year qualifying period for settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of earned settlement proposals requiring applicants to meet B2 English proficiency on lower income groups.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
From 8 April 2026, the English language requirement for settlement will be raised from level B1 to level B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for most routes that currently require B1. This increase will take effect on 26 March 2027, allowing those already on a pathway to settlement a 12-month period in which to undertake any necessary learning or preparation. We believe this will strengthen long-term integration outcomes.
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on changes to the qualifying residence period for settlement; and the proposal for those working in roles below RQF level 6 to have a 15-year qualifying period for settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the potential economic impact of introducing longer qualifying periods for settlement, including the proposed 15‑year period, for roles below RQF Level 6.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
From 8 April 2026, the English language requirement for settlement will be raised from level B1 to level B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for most routes that currently require B1. This increase will take effect on 26 March 2027, allowing those already on a pathway to settlement a 12-month period in which to undertake any necessary learning or preparation. We believe this will strengthen long-term integration outcomes.
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on changes to the qualifying residence period for settlement; and the proposal for those working in roles below RQF level 6 to have a 15-year qualifying period for settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her department has had with local authorities regarding potential service pressures in children's services and housing as a result of the earned settlement proposals.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
From 8 April 2026, the English language requirement for settlement will be raised from level B1 to level B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for most routes that currently require B1. This increase will take effect on 26 March 2027, allowing those already on a pathway to settlement a 12-month period in which to undertake any necessary learning or preparation. We believe this will strengthen long-term integration outcomes.
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on changes to the qualifying residence period for settlement; and the proposal for those working in roles below RQF level 6 to have a 15-year qualifying period for settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure continuity of ADHD care for people on the right to choose waiting list in England when they move to Scotland to take up a place at University.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Healthcare is a devolved matter and the Right to Choose applies only to National Health Services commissioned in England. When a person moves from England to Scotland, their healthcare, including access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assessment and treatment, becomes the responsibility of NHS Scotland, which operates under its own clinical pathways, eligibility criteria, and commissioning arrangements.