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Written Question
Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions
Friday 6th February 2026

Asked by: Catherine Fookes (Labour - Monmouthshire)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with Capita on ensuring newly retired civil servants receive pensions on time.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (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 Civil Service Pension Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025 and is experiencing significant performance issues in delivering services to members. The delays facing some civil servants and pension scheme members in accessing their pensions is unacceptable.

Both Ministers and senior officials are meeting regularly with Capita leaders to track progress against agreed recovery plans. The recovery plan includes specific milestones and accountability targets. It includes commitments to deal with priority cases as quickly as possible, restore service levels for all, deploy additional resources, and improve communication with affected members.

Written Question
STEM Subjects: Employment
Friday 6th February 2026

Asked by: Catherine Fookes (Labour - Monmouthshire)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help protect STEM jobs in Wales.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy is protecting and expanding STEM jobs in Wales by backing future industries and Wales’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and life sciences. North Wales will pioneer the UK’s first Small Modular Reactor programme, supporting up to 3,000 new jobs. Two Welsh AI Growth Zones are unlocking more than 8,000 technology roles across the country, while the UK Government’s £500 million investment in an electric arc furnace at Port Talbot, and continued support for the compound semiconductor cluster, further strengthens Wales’s industrial and STEM employment base.

Division Vote (Commons)
3 Feb 2026 - Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill - View Vote Context
Catherine Fookes (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 358 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 458 Noes - 104
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 02 Feb 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"Veterans in my constituency benefit from the stellar Monmouthshire veterans support hub in Abergavenny. Such organisations, and the volunteers who keep them running, are invaluable to our communities. We also have excellent branches of the Royal British Legion, and a veterans-informed GP service in Monmouth. As the Government’s Valour programme …..."
Catherine Fookes - View Speech

View all Catherine Fookes (Lab - Monmouthshire) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 02 Feb 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"7. What steps he is taking to improve support for veterans. ..."
Catherine Fookes - View Speech

View all Catherine Fookes (Lab - Monmouthshire) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 29 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"Recently I met with employees and union reps from SYNLAB, a thriving pathology laboratory in Abergavenny. It has been taken over, and now more than 30 jobs are at risk, meaning that these highly skilled opportunities in science, technology, engineering and maths could move out of my constituency. I thank …..."
Catherine Fookes - View Speech

View all Catherine Fookes (Lab - Monmouthshire) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Division Vote (Commons)
28 Jan 2026 - Youth Unemployment - View Vote Context
Catherine Fookes (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 280 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 91 Noes - 287
Division Vote (Commons)
28 Jan 2026 - Deferred Division - View Vote Context
Catherine Fookes (Lab) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 287 Labour Aye votes vs 3 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 294 Noes - 108
Division Vote (Commons)
28 Jan 2026 - British Indian Ocean Territory - View Vote Context
Catherine Fookes (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 277 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 103 Noes - 284
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 27 Jan 2026
Rural Broadband: Installation

"I thank the hon. Member for securing this really important debate. My broadband survey in Monmouthshire shows that communities such as Trellech, Llangwm and Mamhilad have really big issues with broadband. Will the hon. Member address the issues for people personally, not just for business? A man from my constituency …..."
Catherine Fookes - View Speech

View all Catherine Fookes (Lab - Monmouthshire) contributions to the debate on: Rural Broadband: Installation