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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to ensure that, following the changes to dual-nationality, processing times and document requirements for passport applications remain consistent.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

There have been no changes to the customer guidance for when to expect to receive a passport, or any additional evidence required in support of a passport application, following the enforcement of Electronic Travel Authorisation in February 2026.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what measures the Government is taking to oppose and denounce the use of the death penalty for child executions in other countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to oppose the use of capital punishment in all circumstances, including in cases involving child executions, and we regularly make representations to other countries on this issue. We particularly deplore any failure to observe the relevant international standards, defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that local governments, including in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, have the resources available for road maintenance and improvements.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that local authorities have the resources needed to maintain and improve their road networks. The Government has therefore confirmed a record £7.3 billion investment into local highways maintenance over the next four years. By confirming funding allocations for the next four-year period, authorities have certainty to plan ahead and shift from short-term fixes to proactive, preventative maintenance.

South Gloucestershire and Bristol sit within the West of England Combined Authority. West of England Combined Authority receives baseline highways maintenance funding through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) which runs from 2022-27. In 2026/27, West of England CA will also receive £7.032 million in incentive funding. From 2027/28, all highways maintenance funding will be consolidated into Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements, which will provide the bulk of future funding.

To further support local authorities and ensure best use of public funding, the Department published a new traffic light rating system for all local highway authorities in England on 11 January which rates authorities red, amber or green based on: the condition of their roads, how much they spend to maintain their roads and whether they do so using best practice. This system allows the Government to target support to places that need extra help and red-rated authorities have been offered dedicated support to bring them in line with best practice.

Bristol City Council received an overall amber rating, with individual scorecards showing amber for condition, green spend and amber for best practice. Additionally, South Gloucestershire received an overall amber rating, with individual scorecards showing amber for condition, green spend and amber for best practice.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his department has made an assessment of levels of prevalence of voting fraud in (a) postal voting, and (b) proxy voting.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Data on allegations and outcomes of electoral fraud is collected by police forces across the UK and provided to the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission publishes this information annually on its website. The Government continues to work closely with the Electoral Commission, the police and other partners to safeguard the integrity of elections and maintain public confidence in the democratic process.

Postal voting is now a major part of our elections, with over a quarter of votes at the 2024 General Election cast by post. As part of the Electoral Commission’s review of that election which can be found here, 89% of postal voters stated they were satisfied with the process of voting.

Proxy voting also remains an important element of our elections, particularly providing access for electors based overseas or in the military, and for disabled electors or those with medical issues. Appropriate safeguards such as identity checks remain in place for all absent voting applications.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what equality impact assessment she has undertaken regarding the effect of the increase in Normal Minimum Pension Age on women, particularly those with primary caring responsibilities.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The NMPA is the minimum age at which most pension savers can access their pensions without incurring an unauthorised payments tax charge. The increase in Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) from 55 to 57 will take effect from 6 April 2028. It was announced in 2014 and legislated for in Finance Act 2022.

The legislation includes protections for members of registered pension schemes who have an unqualified right to access their pension benefits before age 57.

HMRC published details of the general equalities impacts of the increase to the NMPA in the Tax Information and Impact Note which accompanied the measure. Further information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increasing-normal-minimum-pension-age/increasing-normal-minimum-pension-age

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her department has made of the differences in percentage pay increases between different public sector staff like prison staff, probation officers, nurses, doctors etc.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Government hugely values the vital contribution that over 6 million public sector workers make across the UK, delivering the essential public services we all rely on. Pay for most frontline workforces, including nurses, teachers, armed forces and police officers, is set by departments following recommendations from independent Pay Review Bodies.

Details of pay awards are published by the relevant departments on Gov.UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to regulate cryptocurrency investment.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government legislated in February of this year to establish a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets, requiring firms to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority for providing relevant cryptoasset services in or to the UK. This built on previous regulatory interventions on cryptoasset money laundering and financial promotions.

Found: South) Mr Peter Bedford (Conservative; Mid Leicestershire) Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat; Torbay) Damien Egan

Found: South) Mr Peter Bedford (Conservative; Mid Leicestershire) Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat; Torbay) Damien Egan

Found: Abrahams (Chair); Rushanara Ali; Lee Barron; Johanna Baxter; Mr Peter Bedford; Steve Darling; Damien Egan

Found: present: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Lee Barron; Johanna Baxter; Mr Peter Bedford; Steve Darling; Damien Egan

Found: Chair); Helen Hayes (Chair); Rushanara Ali; David Baines; Johanna Baxter; Sureena Brackenridge; Damien Egan