Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 1 July 2026 on the Civil Service Pension Scheme, whether Capita met its commitment to restore administration of the scheme to contractual levels by the end of June 2026; and what the current backlog is for (a) pension quotations, (b) pension payments, (c) bereavement cases, (d) ill-health retirement cases and (e) cases involving financial hardship.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government.

The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. The Government is taking robust action to hold Capita to account. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita.

To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser is being appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

Looking forward, the Government has already announced their new public interest test to end outsourcing of public services by default. From April 2027, all contracts over £1 million must be assessed for in-house viability before renewal. Departments exceeding £100 million in annual spend must also develop five-year insourcing strategies. This framework builds the exact long-term capability that we need, shifting our focus from short-term pricing to service quality and operational resilience.

The Cabinet Office is unable to provide a specific breakdown of the number of Civil Service Pension Scheme members who are awaiting payment beyond the expected timescale, as members retire at different times, including early, late, or partial retirement. Around 6,700 members currently await pension quotations from Capita, including outstanding historical cases left unprocessed by the previous administrator.

Capita were initially instructed to prioritise and clear the most urgent cases such as Death in Service and Ill-Health during February and March. While Capita previously assured us that performance standards for Death in Service and Ill-Health were being met by mid-March, recent information continues to demonstrate unacceptable delays in some ill-health retirement and death-in-service cases. We have urgently escalated this to Capita, who are actively investigating the underlying data and reasons for these continued delays.

As of 30 June, Ill-Health numbers outstanding are 429, of which 60 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed. In respect of Death in Service, numbers outstanding are 618, of which 400 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed.

Capita has issued lump sum payments to 19,362 retired members awaiting their regular pensions, whilst the scheme continues to pay approximately 730,000 existing pensioners on time. To alleviate immediate hardship, employers have issued £16.2 million in Transitional Support Loans to 2,932 members, alongside interest-free bridging loans ranging from £5,000 to £20,000. Members will fully repay these bridging loans upon receipt of their formal pension payments.

Existing civil servants who have partially retired or a civil servant who retired from 1 January 2025, can contact their employer to access the transitional support loan. The provision of these loans will continue while delays persist.

Pension scheme members not in scope of this loan scheme but who are at risk of experiencing financial hardship due to the delayed payment of their pension, should contact Capita and highlight the financial impact of these delays. Capita will then prioritise resolution of these cases.

The scheme will automatically pay interest on delayed benefits to protect members from financial loss. The statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial loss, distress, and inconvenience on a case-by-case basis, to determine whether any compensation is due, and is operated in strict accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 1 July 2026 on the Civil Service Pension Scheme, what commercial levers his Department is considering in response to Capita’s performance; and whether those levers include financial penalties, withholding payments, contract variation, termination or bringing administration of the scheme back in-house.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government.

The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. The Government is taking robust action to hold Capita to account. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita.

To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser is being appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

Looking forward, the Government has already announced their new public interest test to end outsourcing of public services by default. From April 2027, all contracts over £1 million must be assessed for in-house viability before renewal. Departments exceeding £100 million in annual spend must also develop five-year insourcing strategies. This framework builds the exact long-term capability that we need, shifting our focus from short-term pricing to service quality and operational resilience.

The Cabinet Office is unable to provide a specific breakdown of the number of Civil Service Pension Scheme members who are awaiting payment beyond the expected timescale, as members retire at different times, including early, late, or partial retirement. Around 6,700 members currently await pension quotations from Capita, including outstanding historical cases left unprocessed by the previous administrator.

Capita were initially instructed to prioritise and clear the most urgent cases such as Death in Service and Ill-Health during February and March. While Capita previously assured us that performance standards for Death in Service and Ill-Health were being met by mid-March, recent information continues to demonstrate unacceptable delays in some ill-health retirement and death-in-service cases. We have urgently escalated this to Capita, who are actively investigating the underlying data and reasons for these continued delays.

As of 30 June, Ill-Health numbers outstanding are 429, of which 60 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed. In respect of Death in Service, numbers outstanding are 618, of which 400 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed.

Capita has issued lump sum payments to 19,362 retired members awaiting their regular pensions, whilst the scheme continues to pay approximately 730,000 existing pensioners on time. To alleviate immediate hardship, employers have issued £16.2 million in Transitional Support Loans to 2,932 members, alongside interest-free bridging loans ranging from £5,000 to £20,000. Members will fully repay these bridging loans upon receipt of their formal pension payments.

Existing civil servants who have partially retired or a civil servant who retired from 1 January 2025, can contact their employer to access the transitional support loan. The provision of these loans will continue while delays persist.

Pension scheme members not in scope of this loan scheme but who are at risk of experiencing financial hardship due to the delayed payment of their pension, should contact Capita and highlight the financial impact of these delays. Capita will then prioritise resolution of these cases.

The scheme will automatically pay interest on delayed benefits to protect members from financial loss. The statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial loss, distress, and inconvenience on a case-by-case basis, to determine whether any compensation is due, and is operated in strict accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he will establish a compensation scheme for Civil Service Pension Scheme members and beneficiaries affected by delayed pension payments, bereavement delays, ill-health retirement delays or financial hardship; and whether his Department is reviewing the case for bringing administration of the scheme back into the Civil Service.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government.

The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. The Government is taking robust action to hold Capita to account. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita.

To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser is being appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

Looking forward, the Government has already announced their new public interest test to end outsourcing of public services by default. From April 2027, all contracts over £1 million must be assessed for in-house viability before renewal. Departments exceeding £100 million in annual spend must also develop five-year insourcing strategies. This framework builds the exact long-term capability that we need, shifting our focus from short-term pricing to service quality and operational resilience.

The Cabinet Office is unable to provide a specific breakdown of the number of Civil Service Pension Scheme members who are awaiting payment beyond the expected timescale, as members retire at different times, including early, late, or partial retirement. Around 6,700 members currently await pension quotations from Capita, including outstanding historical cases left unprocessed by the previous administrator.

Capita were initially instructed to prioritise and clear the most urgent cases such as Death in Service and Ill-Health during February and March. While Capita previously assured us that performance standards for Death in Service and Ill-Health were being met by mid-March, recent information continues to demonstrate unacceptable delays in some ill-health retirement and death-in-service cases. We have urgently escalated this to Capita, who are actively investigating the underlying data and reasons for these continued delays.

As of 30 June, Ill-Health numbers outstanding are 429, of which 60 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed. In respect of Death in Service, numbers outstanding are 618, of which 400 have outstanding data or information requirements before processing can be completed.

Capita has issued lump sum payments to 19,362 retired members awaiting their regular pensions, whilst the scheme continues to pay approximately 730,000 existing pensioners on time. To alleviate immediate hardship, employers have issued £16.2 million in Transitional Support Loans to 2,932 members, alongside interest-free bridging loans ranging from £5,000 to £20,000. Members will fully repay these bridging loans upon receipt of their formal pension payments.

Existing civil servants who have partially retired or a civil servant who retired from 1 January 2025, can contact their employer to access the transitional support loan. The provision of these loans will continue while delays persist.

Pension scheme members not in scope of this loan scheme but who are at risk of experiencing financial hardship due to the delayed payment of their pension, should contact Capita and highlight the financial impact of these delays. Capita will then prioritise resolution of these cases.

The scheme will automatically pay interest on delayed benefits to protect members from financial loss. The statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial loss, distress, and inconvenience on a case-by-case basis, to determine whether any compensation is due, and is operated in strict accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that commitments to end corridor care are supported by sufficient NHS bed capacity, safe staffing levels, ambulance handover improvements, social care capacity and community health services.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise that corridor care is unacceptable and should not become a normal part of National Health Service care. It reflects pressure across the whole urgent and emergency care pathway, including in hospitals and across wider health and care services. As part of delivering the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/2026, the Government and NHS England have provided over £450 million of capital investment to expand urgent and emergency care capacity, and we introduced a maximum 45-minute standard to tackle unacceptable ambulance handover delays. We have also published new national clinical standards, including Model Emergency Department, The Model Acute Pathway, and the Model Discharge Pathway, supporting more consistent, high‑quality care and improved flow through hospitals.

The Medium-Term Planning Framework sets out a clear three-year trajectory to improve urgent and emergency care performance year-on-year toward the waiting time standards set out in the NHS Constitution, reducing long waits and improving patient experience. This is backed by a further £1.9 billion of capital investment between 2026/27 and 2029/30 to support improvements to emergency departments, Same Day Emergency Care, urgent treatment centres, ambulance infrastructure, and additional bed capacity where appropriate.

We are also expanding neighbourhood health services and virtual wards to support more patients to receive care closer to home where clinically appropriate. Additionally, in February 2026, the Government published guidance setting out new arrangements for the Better Care Fund, requiring NHS integrated care boards and local authorities to pool over £9 billion of funding to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and reduce delayed hospital discharges with more integrated health and social care services.

The Government has already made progress in increasing the number of frontline staff, improving working conditions, and making the NHS a rewarding and fulfilling place to work. However, we must go further. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will help ensure the NHS has the skilled workforce needed to deliver high-quality care for patients.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department expects NHS England to publish reliable national data on the number of patients receiving care in corridors, waiting rooms, ambulance queues and other temporary care environments; and whether that data will be published at trust level.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England introduced a national definition of corridor care and began publishing validated corridor care data at a trust level for the first time on 11 June 2026. The data continues to be published through the monthly NHS Performance Statistics publication.

As this is a new national dataset, it is currently designated as Statistics in Development. NHS England will continue to improve data quality and completeness over time before considering whether the statistics are ready to move beyond this designation. The Department has not set a date by which this will occur.

Trust level data will continue to be published alongside the national statistics.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of corridor care in NHS hospital trusts serving Merseyside; and what support is being provided to those trusts to reduce the use of inappropriate temporary care environments.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England now publishes trust-level corridor care data as part of its regular NHS Performance Statistics Publication. As this is a new dataset, it is currently designated as Statistics in Development while data quality and completeness continue to improve. The Department has not made a separate assessment of the prevalence of corridor care specifically across National Health Service trusts serving Merseyside beyond consideration of the published NHS England data.

NHS England provides targeted support to organisations experiencing the highest levels of corridor care. This includes expert Getting It Right First Time teams working with local NHS leaders to improve patient flow, strengthen discharge arrangements, and reduce overcrowding. Trusts serving Merseyside, like all NHS organisations, can access this support where appropriate.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding made available for Continuing Professional Development for social workers employed by the NHS.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is considering changes to miscarriage care pathways, including earlier access to investigations and support for people who experience miscarriage.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

We are committed to improving the care received by women and families through the pending maternity and neonatal national action plan, overseen by the Government’s National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.

We welcome the report on the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care pilot study at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital. As set out in the Women’s Health Strategy, will carefully consider the findings presented in the Tommy’s report as part of our broader work on miscarriage care.

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