Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Civil Service Pensions Recovery Plan

Thursday 5 March 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have ensured that hardship loans are in place for the civil service pensions recovery plan.
  • The Minister is willing to look into the case regarding support to dependants.
  • The Cabinet Office has already withheld moneys from Capita for not meeting milestones.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Susan Murray Lib Dem Mid Dunbartonshire
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The recovery plan for civil service pensions has raised concerns about the financial impact on pension scheme members and their dependants.

Question

What estimate has the government made of the cost of the civil service pensions recovery plan?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Government have ensured that hardship loans are in place and are monitoring Capita, holding it to account on the recovery plan. The priority is to stabilise the service, and there will be a commercial discussion on cost.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The cost estimate of the recovery plan was not provided.

How: Monitoring Capita, Holding It To Account, Commercial Discussion On Cost

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Q2 Susan Murray Lib Dem Mid Dunbartonshire
Benefits & Welfare
Context

On 23 February, the Cabinet Office confirmed that hardship loans would not be available to dependants or surviving spouses of civil service pension scheme members, leaving one of the MP's constituents without support.

Question

Can the Minister explain how much it would have cost to provide support to dependants? Can he tell me how many people have been left without support as a result of this decision?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Minister is willing to look into the worrying case and clarify that the Cabinet Office has already withheld moneys from Capita for not meeting milestones, and their contractual rights are reserved.

Not addressed: The cost and number of people affected were not provided.

How: Willing To Look Into The Case, Withheld Moneys From Capita, Contractual Rights Reserved

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