Civil Service Pension Scheme Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office
Tuesday 15th September 2026

(1 month ago)

Westminster Hall
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Ian Byrne Portrait Ian Byrne
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That excellent point is well made, and I will raise it in my speech.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
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The civil service pension scheme is not delivering for the people who have put faith in their hard-earned income, as the hon. Gentleman said. When Capita took on the scheme, it was already facing a backlog of cases and was likely ill-equipped for the task. Serious questions must be asked about whether a sufficiently thorough assessment of Capita’s capability to take on such an important responsibility was undertaken before this transfer occurred. Should its capability to do the job it was tasked with not have been ascertained?

Ian Byrne Portrait Ian Byrne
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A point well made.

James Burke works for the Department for Work and Pensions in the Child Maintenance Service. James entered partial retirement, reducing his working week salary by about 20%, with his pension intended to replace the lost income and provide a lump sum. Neither has arrived. With his mortgage due for repayment on 30 July, his borrowing increased and his provider told him it could not offer a new product. James made nine calls to the helpline, sometimes waiting around two hours. He was promised resolution, then told payment was imminent before being informed that no timescale could be provided.