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.

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.