Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made in earmarking financial provisions for the compensation that is likely to be claimed by the retirees who have been denied timely access to their entitled benefits.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assumptions her Department made on Capita’s ability to deliver the contracted services in the context of reports from the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on concerns that have been raised with the Cabinet Office by the independent Civil Service Pensions Board.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on UK exports to the EU.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The latest factual information on exports to the EU can be found in the 13 April report of the Office of National Statistics. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/balanceofpayments/bulletins/uktrade/february2021.
The vast majority of traders and hauliers have adapted well, and our focus now is on making sure that any business that is still facing challenges gets the support they need.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people died as a result of issues related to homelessness in Bethnal Green and Bow in each of the last five years.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-disclosure agreements his Department has signed with (a) companies and (b) trade associations advising the Government on preparations for contingency planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by David Lidington
This information is not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the oral evidence of the Permanent Secretary of HMRC of 23 May and 5 June 2018 to the Treasury Committee, which Government departments had seen prior to the publication of the estimated figures of £17 billion to £20 billion for the cost of the maximum facilitation model in a letter to that Committee, dated 5 June 2018, (a) submissions and (b) briefing papers on those figures.
Answered by David Lidington
The Government is considering two approaches to a future customs relationship with the EU: a ‘new customs partnership’ and a ‘highly streamlined customs arrangement’. Ongoing analysis continues to support the development of both models.
The analysis to support the estimated £17-20 billion figure was published in a letter by the Chief Executive of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to the Treasury Select Committee on 5 June, 2018.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the additional cost to the public purse was of delays of more than three months in the completion of Government IT projects in each Department since 2010.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer given to PQ127332 on 26th February.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of the delayed completion by more than three months of Government IT projects since 2010.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer given to PQ127332 on 26th February.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) completed and (b) ongoing public sector contracts in (i) Bethnal Green and Bow, (ii) Tower Hamlets and (iii) Greater London involved Carillion in the last three years for which figures are available.
Answered by Oliver Dowden
Information on public sector suppliers within a specific constituency is not held centrally.