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, what support his Department provides for young disabled people who are transitioning to adult benefits and Universal Credit.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP notifies young people who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 5 months before they reach age 16 to advise them they will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment after they reach their sixteenth birthday. This is to establish if they will require an appointee and to ensure that benefits continue to be paid into the right bank account. If necessary, DLA can continue to be paid until a decision on their PIP application is made.
Where applying for Universal Credit, which can usually only be accessed from the age of 18, disabled people can access tailored support, including the independent ‘Help to Claim’ service delivered by Citizens Advice, assisted digital support, and the option to claim by phone where needed. DWP also provides reasonable adjustments, alternative communication formats, home visits, and claimants can choose to use an appointee; ensuring disabled people can access Universal Credit safely and fairly. Universal Credit Work Coaches are trained to support disabled claimants and to tailor conditionality to reflect health conditions and individual capability.
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 percentage payment was made in 2024 (when the annual Pension Increase was 6.7%) to Civil Servants who had retired before 2016, for the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP/COD) component of their public service pension in respect of each of the following: (a) pre ’88 GMP, (b) post ’88 GMP up to 3%, (c) post ’88 GMP over 3%, (d) and if PI is applied to the GMP part of all public service pension schemes in the same way as above.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) provides for annual Pension Increases (PI) in line with the relevant September to September annual increase, using the relevant Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure for indexation. In April 2024, this increase was 6.7%. The application of this increase to the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) component for members who retired before 2016 depends on the period in which the GMP was earned and the legislation governing the indexation of "contracted-out" benefits.
For a Civil Servant who retired before 2016 and reached State Pension Age before 6 April 2016:
(a) Pre-1988 GMP: In accordance with statutory requirements, the CSPS does not apply a pension increase to the pre-1988 GMP component. For these members, indexation on this part of the pension is traditionally provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through the State Pension.
(b) Post-1988 GMP up to 3%: The CSPS is responsible for increasing the post-1988 GMP by the rate of the Pensions Increase Order, capped at 3%. For the 2024 increase, the scheme paid the maximum 3% on this component.
(c) Post-1988 GMP over 3%: The CSPS does not pay the increase on the post-1988 GMP above the 3% cap. For these members, the remaining 3.7% (the difference between the 6.7% CPI and the 3% scheme cap) is typically paid by the DWP as part of the member's State Pension.
Data regarding the specific proportion of a total pension payment that is comprised of GMP for each of the approximately 500,000 pensioners is not held centrally.
(d) Application across Public Service Pension Schemes: The rules for the indexation of GMP described above are derived from the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 and the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 and apply across the main public service pension schemes.
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 steps she is taking to support farmers with (a) increase in diesel prices and (b) the supply of diesel.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is actively monitoring the developments in the Middle East, including impact on the supply and prices of red diesel. Currently red diesel remains well stocked for all fuel types. Fuels Industry UK have been clear that fuel production and imports are continuing across the UK as usual. The CMA has put the industry on notice that they are monitoring petrol and diesel prices closely and red diesel used by farmers continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount compared to full duty diesel, supporting farm operating costs.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help ensure that potential reductions in wholesale fuel costs are passed on to consumers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.
This government has also introduced the Fuel Finder scheme, which will increase price transparency so drivers can compare prices to find the best deal and incentivise greater competition.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential economic effect on consumers of reducing fuel duty.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the impact of fuel costs on household budgets and is already taking action to help keep fuel prices down. Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government’s decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist around 8 to 11 pence per litre, compared to the plans inherited from the previous government.
The Government has published Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) assessing the impacts of the 2026/27 fuel duty rates, which can be found at GOV.UK:
As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review.
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 115846, submitted on 24 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 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.