Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency have been affected by the issues with administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
We are unable to provide a breakdown of the number of people affected in the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency. Capita does not provide data on the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme at this specific geographic or constituency level.
The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update (2 March 2026) is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-update-2-march-2026
The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria his Department uses in uprating retired Civil Servants Contracted Out Deduction with annual pension increases to their pre and post - 88 GMP; and what other methodologies his Departments uses for these calculations when applied to other pension schemes for the uprating of Civil Servants Contracted Out Deduction.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Pension increases are provided for under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, and annual Orders (SIs) made by H.M. Treasury under that Act. The increase from 7th April 2025 was confirmed as 1.7%, which is the rate of CPI as at September 2024.
These pension increases apply to all pension benefits with the exception of contracted-out benefits accrued prior to 6 April 1997, for members who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016. Increases on part of this element are provided through the state additional pension.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer written question 110026, submitted on 2 February 2026.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
A response has been issued here.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of fuel, fertiliser and other costs on farmers.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is actively monitoring the developments in the Middle East and the impacts for our food and farming sectors, including ongoing discussions with industry leaders to gather evidence.
Food security is a core national priority. We are closely monitoring the impacts of the conflict on food businesses and working with stakeholders across the farm sector.
The Government is supporting the food sector by investing £11.8bn this Parliament to support sustainable farming and domestic food production. This includes £2bn a year by 2028/29 and a 150% increase in funding for Environmental Land Management schemes.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason emails of 4 February 2026 were published as part of their release of documents around the appointment of Peter Mandelson; and whether more context for their inclusion will be provided.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what basis Peter Mandelson's contract was terminated with the FCDO.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Peter Mandelson's contract required him to be given a period of notice.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry dated 7 November 2025 and 12 January 2026.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Thank you for raising this. Both cases, CMPT12025/108144 and CMPT12026/02004, have now been assigned to a Complaints Resolution Manager for urgent action. We are prioritising them to ensure a response within 15‑working‑days, and we will monitor progress closely to avoid any further delays.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many outstanding cases of people facing the Loan Charge she expects will be settled as a result of the McCann review.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2024 the Government announced a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their loan charge liabilities. The review identified affordability as a key barrier preventing those individuals from settling and made recommendations to remove this barrier.
The Government has gone further in supporting people on the lowest incomes by providing an additional £5,000 deduction for those in scope of the review. This entirely removes approximately 10,000 individuals from the charge and reduces liabilities for the vast majority. Most others will see their liabilities reduced by at least half.
Under the review recommendations, an individual earning £30,000 who used a disguised remuneration scheme for three years would have their liability reduced by 66 percent. Under the Government’s plans, they will instead see 89 percent written off. It represents the Government’s attempt to provide a fair route to resolution for those who have not settled with HMRC. In turn, those people need to come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the value for money to the taxpayer of the Loan Charge.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2024 the Government announced a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their loan charge liabilities. The review identified affordability as a key barrier preventing those individuals from settling and made recommendations to remove this barrier.
The Government has gone further in supporting people on the lowest incomes by providing an additional £5,000 deduction for those in scope of the review. This entirely removes approximately 10,000 individuals from the charge and reduces liabilities for the vast majority. Most others will see their liabilities reduced by at least half.
Under the review recommendations, an individual earning £30,000 who used a disguised remuneration scheme for three years would have their liability reduced by 66 percent. Under the Government’s plans, they will instead see 89 percent written off. It represents the Government’s attempt to provide a fair route to resolution for those who have not settled with HMRC. In turn, those people need to come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.