Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Sector Insourcing

Thursday 23 April 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Labour Government is ending the age of outsourcing
  • Public interest test will require Departments to assess if services can be better delivered in-house
  • Departments must publish insourcing strategies for medium-term plans

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jodie Gosling Lab Nuneaton
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from concerns about outsourcing and the need for in-house delivery of public services.

Question

What steps are being taken to help increase insourcing within the public sector?

Answer from Chris Ward

This Labour Government are ending the age of outsourcing. A public interest test will require all Departments to assess whether a service can be better delivered in-house. Departments must publish insourcing strategies setting out how they will make greater insourcing a reality over the medium term.

Answered
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Q2 Jodie Gosling Lab Nuneaton
Employment Benefits & Welfare Standards & Ethics
Context

Residents are concerned about the performance of Capita in managing civil service pensions. The Government has agreed a £900 million, 10-year deal for Capita to take over the civil service payroll contract under the Synergy programme.

Question

Mr Speaker, I wish you a happy Warwickshire day and a happy St George's day. Nuneaton residents are concerned about the performance of Capita since it took over the civil service pensions. These concerns are shared across the House as we have just heard some horror stories coming into many inboxes. Those residents will therefore be surprised to see that the Government have recently agreed a £900 million, 1 10-year deal for the same company to take over the civil service payroll contract under the Synergy programme. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that maintaining current insourcing is the only way to ensure value for taxpayers' money and a decent level of service for residents?

Answer from Chris Ward

The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office updated the House on this issue yesterday, answering several questions. I agree that insourcing can play a key role in delivering better value for money and higher-quality public services, which is why we are introducing the public interest test and ending the age of outsourcing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific deal with Capita was not addressed directly.

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