Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to Question 108150 answered on 29 January 2026, what progress the cross-departmental team has made on reducing Capita's backlog of Civil Service Pension Scheme Payments.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office is responsible for the management of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
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 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.
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.
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: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of Ukraine’s approach to maintaining civil resilience and continuity of government during sustained attacks on critical infrastructure.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Ukraine continues to show great determination and ability to defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion. Russia has gained less than 1.5% of Ukrainian territory since the frontlines stabilised in November 2022, suffering over 1 million casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion, and its economy is stagnating.
The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. The Prime Minister has met with and spoken to President Zelenskyy on numerous occasions since taking office, most recently on March 17th to agree an Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration. We are incorporating lessons relating to CNI, continuity of government and wider resilience from Ukraine’s extraordinary experience as outlined in the Resilience Action Plan and National Security Strategy.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in payment of the Civil Service pension on people in receipt of that pension.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members.
We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.
We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle delays in payment of the Civil Service pension.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members.
We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.
We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of foreign state influence on UK political activity in the period surrounding the 2016 EU Referendum.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK Government takes issues of foreign interference or attempts to intervene in democratic processes very seriously.
Successive governments have not seen any evidence of successful foreign interference in the European Union referendum. The Electoral Commission’s report published in September 2016 on the referendum stated that the poll was delivered without any major issues and there was a clear and timely final result.
However, we recognise the enduring and significant threat that Russia poses to UK democracy and remain committed to defending the UK from all forms of foreign interference.
The Government’s Defending Democracy Taskforce regularly engages and works with devolved governments and parliaments on threats facing our democracy including foreign interference. The taskforce will be used to coordinate the delivery of the Government’s Counter Political Interference and Espionage Action Plan. This action plan will deliver a protective security campaign to support those at risk to recognise, resist and report attempts of foreign interference, strengthen existing legislation to mitigate the threat, and coordinate action to disrupt the use of proxy actors.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and I commissioned an independent review on 16 January into foreign financial interference in UK politics. This review will assess finance and bribery rules and how to reduce risk of foreign interference, building on new rules set out in the Elections Strategy announced in July 2025.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of restoring stronger ties with the European Union.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have reset our relations with European partners. The Government is now focused on using our strengthened relations to deliver a new strategic partnership with the EU to grow the economy, boost living standards, protect our borders and keep the UK safe.
The UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits for the people of the UK and the EU.