MPs call Capita Pensions backlog an "abject failure"
Today in Westminster, Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, called a Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme’.
In calling today's debate the Labour MP asked for five questions to be addressed relating to the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, echoing PCS‘s stance on this issue affecting thousands:
Providing immediate financial support and fair compensation.
Publishing a clear recovery plan with proper oversight.
Capita to pause Voluntary Exit Schemes, which would increase staffing capacity and dedicate every resource to clearing the backlog
Reviewing how this contract was handled, including whether the service should return in-house.
Restating a simple promise: pensions earned through public service must be paid on time and with respect.
During the debate MP after MP from across the house spoke about the "human crisis", highlighting the many cases of hardship their constituents are having to deal with through the abject failure of Capita and previously MyCSP in running this contract.
Anne Davies, MP for Caerfyrddin, backed PCS’s demand for a “bespoke compensation scheme that takes account of overdue payments and financial distress that this scandal has caused.”
John McDonnell MP, chair of the PCS parliamentary group, made the point that ministers were warned of the dangers of this failed privatisation by PCS back in the 2010s and that PCS is asking for clarity on the resources being put in to resolve this issue.
Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington said it was an “absolute outrage” that Capita had been awarded the contract in the first place and was one of many MPs to point out the company’s previous failures on government contracts.
In her response to the debate the minister Anna Turley MP acknowledged that the service that pension scheme members have received is unacceptable, she took responsibility and apologised, saying that it’s a "failure" and a matter of "utmost urgency" for this government.
In the two months since Capita took over the contract from the Equiniti-owned MyCSP the backlog for the scheme has risen from 86,000 to 120,000 cases.
PCS continues to brief parliamentarians and as today’s debate shows there is growing support for our members on this issue. An early day motion has been tabled which is receiving cross-party support.
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