Rushanara Ali

The Cabinet Office maintains intensive engagement with key governance bodies regarding the performance and administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Comprehensive fortnightly meetings are conducted with the Civil Service Pension Board (CSPB) to ensure detailed oversight, alongside quarterly board sessions. Through these structured engagements, performance metrics, service recovery trajectories, and long-term scheme planning are closely reviewed.

In addition, the department retains formal records of its engagement with the CSPB. This information includes official correspondence, meeting minutes, action logs, and risk mitigation strategies concerning key operational challenges, scheme recovery, and ongoing administration.

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) 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. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, so that serving and former staff can receive the high standard of service they deserve.

The existing statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial losses, as well as distress and inconvenience caused, on a case-by-case basis to determine whether compensation is due. This ensures that any retiree who provides evidence of extra costs, such as bank penalties or interest charges caused by the delay, is fairly assessed. All complaints will be handled with reference to Pensions Ombudsman standards.

The appointment of Capita followed a procurement process conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), with their selection primarily driven by proposed improvements to digital infrastructure and member services. In evaluating whether to award the contract and subsequently proceed with service transition, the Department considered risks relating to technical delivery, cyber security, and operational continuity for the scheme's 1.7 million members. Proceeding with transition ensured that regular monthly pension payments would continue uninterrupted and was rooted in a upfront evaluation, risk assessment, and cross-government approval process.

Government has set out its intention to develop statutory guidance for the trust-based private pensions sector. The proposed guidance intends to clarify how trustees can interpret and apply their existing duties, particularly when considering wider or longer-term factors in investment decision-making. Government is developing this guidance in partnership with the pensions sector and will consult on the draft guidance.

Further details including the legislation to underpin strategy guidance will be published in due course.

Government has set out its intention to develop statutory guidance for the trust-based private pensions sector. The proposed guidance intends to clarify how trustees can interpret and apply their existing duties, particularly when considering wider or longer-term factors in investment decision-making. Government is developing this guidance in partnership with the pensions sector and will consult on the draft guidance.

Further details including the legislation to underpin strategy guidance will be published in due course.

Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in its illegal war against Ukraine is deeply concerning. The UK condemns any deception, coercion or trafficking linked to Russia's war effort and is working with partners to expose these practices, support accountability and disrupt those responsible. On 5 May, the UK announced sanctions targeting networks involved in trafficking vulnerable migrants to support Russia's war effort, including deceptive recruitment and exploitation. The UK calls for full compliance with international humanitarian law, including the humane treatment of prisoners of war and appropriate access and protection arrangements.

Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in its illegal war against Ukraine is deeply concerning. The UK condemns any deception, coercion or trafficking linked to Russia's war effort and is working with partners to expose these practices, support accountability and disrupt those responsible. On 5 May, the UK announced sanctions targeting networks involved in trafficking vulnerable migrants to support Russia's war effort, including deceptive recruitment and exploitation. The UK calls for full compliance with international humanitarian law, including the humane treatment of prisoners of war and appropriate access and protection arrangements.

Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in its illegal war against Ukraine is deeply concerning. The UK condemns any deception, coercion or trafficking linked to Russia's war effort and is working with partners to expose these practices, support accountability and disrupt those responsible. On 5 May, the UK announced sanctions targeting networks involved in trafficking vulnerable migrants to support Russia's war effort, including deceptive recruitment and exploitation. The UK calls for full compliance with international humanitarian law, including the humane treatment of prisoners of war and appropriate access and protection arrangements.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 April in response to Question HL16049, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK continues to use its penholder role at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to shine a spotlight on the Myanmar crisis. We convened four Council meetings in 2025 to spotlight the crisis and one most recently in March this year. We welcome the report of the UN Special Rapporteur, and condemn airstrikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, as we did at the UK-convened meeting of the UNSC on 22 December 2025. The statement made at that meeting by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d'Affaires to the UN, is reproduced below:

"This morning, the Security Council will meet privately to discuss the situation in Myanmar. We will hear updates from ASEAN Special Envoy Othman Hashim and the UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop.

"Nearly five years since the Myanmar military overturned the democratically elected government, the UK remains deeply concerned at the ongoing violence. The military must de-escalate and cease its violence, including airstrikes on civilians. Targeted attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop. We strongly condemn the recent airstrike on a hospital in Rakhine State this month, which killed more than 30 civilians.

"The humanitarian situation in Myanmar also remains catastrophic. Over 16 million people will require life-saving assistance in 2026. The UK has provided over $100 million this fiscal year. But financial support can only have real impact if access is granted.

"Finally, the UK is clear: any meaningful election requires an end to violence and dialogue amongst all parties concerned. And there are no indications that the planned elections will be perceived as free or fair. Elections under current circumstances risk provoking further violence and make a long-term solution more elusive.

"The UK reiterates our support for ASEAN's central role in pursuit of a solution to the ongoing crisis. We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their desire for a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic future. We will keep the Myanmar crisis on the Council's agenda."

In addition, we continue to consider designations under our sanctions regimes, including the Myanmar Sanctions Regulations, as guided by the evidence. It is the UK's long-standing policy not to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 April in response to Question HL16049, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK continues to use its penholder role at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to shine a spotlight on the Myanmar crisis. We convened four Council meetings in 2025 to spotlight the crisis and one most recently in March this year. We welcome the report of the UN Special Rapporteur, and condemn airstrikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, as we did at the UK-convened meeting of the UNSC on 22 December 2025. The statement made at that meeting by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d'Affaires to the UN, is reproduced below:

"This morning, the Security Council will meet privately to discuss the situation in Myanmar. We will hear updates from ASEAN Special Envoy Othman Hashim and the UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop.

"Nearly five years since the Myanmar military overturned the democratically elected government, the UK remains deeply concerned at the ongoing violence. The military must de-escalate and cease its violence, including airstrikes on civilians. Targeted attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop. We strongly condemn the recent airstrike on a hospital in Rakhine State this month, which killed more than 30 civilians.

"The humanitarian situation in Myanmar also remains catastrophic. Over 16 million people will require life-saving assistance in 2026. The UK has provided over $100 million this fiscal year. But financial support can only have real impact if access is granted.

"Finally, the UK is clear: any meaningful election requires an end to violence and dialogue amongst all parties concerned. And there are no indications that the planned elections will be perceived as free or fair. Elections under current circumstances risk provoking further violence and make a long-term solution more elusive.

"The UK reiterates our support for ASEAN's central role in pursuit of a solution to the ongoing crisis. We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their desire for a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic future. We will keep the Myanmar crisis on the Council's agenda."

In addition, we continue to consider designations under our sanctions regimes, including the Myanmar Sanctions Regulations, as guided by the evidence. It is the UK's long-standing policy not to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.