Harrowing testimonies given by MPs at Public Accounts Committee on Capita Pensions scandal

The public accounts committee held a session yesterday (26) with officials from Capita, to get further updates on the ongoing crisis with civil service pensions payments and delays. PCS briefed MPs ahead of the session which focussed on progress, priority case work and the timeline for a return to normality for thousands of retired and about-to-retire civil servants, as well as families impacted by delays to death benefit payments.

 

It was clear during the session that Capita continue to be overwhelmed by the backlog, with officials stumbling over their responses to questions from MPs, particularly on the issue of prioritisation of cases and the likely timeline for responses to cases not deemed to be within the high priority category, such as McCloud remedy case work.

 

Clive Betts MP raised numerous constituency cases, including that of a terminally ill civil servant from the MoJ who received some payments which subsequently stopped, leading him to rely on family and friends, with Capita's response to his queries going unanswered. He has now received no payments for three months. Capita's response, although apologetic, confirmed that it is hoped that cases similar to this would be dealt with by the end of April, another five weeks for this civil servant, and others to go with no money and no hope.

 

MPs went on to criticise the language being used by Capita in relation to cases which were not being prioritised, urging Capita to be honest with those individuals, with Clive Betts stating that "You're not prioritising these cases, that means you're doing nothing with it". The likelihood is that these cases will begin to be dealt with in June.

 

MPs also raised our concerns regarding the awarding of the Synergy shared services contract, worth up to £1 billion over 10 years, affecting four large departments and dozens of smaller arms length bodies. Capita stated that the process of the tender had gone on for over a year, a shock to many on the committee, and that all due processes were followed. Capita claimed that lessons would be learned from the pensions issues. Officials confirmed that, at present, Capita are measured by government on 57 contracts, with key performance indicators (KPIs) sitting at 95%, raising further issues regarding how KPIs are set, and by whom.

 

Commenting on the session, PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said:"Yet another committee session in Westminster where Capita were under the spotlight, and another session which confirms that our members concerns are valid: Capita are not fit to run this contract. With delays confirmed, varied prioritisation of cases, surely this is a prime example of failed privatisation and the urgent need for government to review this contract, and others, with a view to insourcing as early as possible, not only to assist our members but the tax payer too."

 

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