Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 June 2026
Joint PAC-PACAC letter to Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office on Civil Service pensions, dated 28.4.26
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Summary
The Public Accounts Committee and Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee jointly invite the Minister for the Cabinet Office to a concurrent hearing on 7 July 2026 to discuss failures in the Civil Service Pension Scheme administration, Capita's performance under the recovery plan, and whether deadlines have been met. The committees express concern that thousands of civil servants face difficulties accessing their pensions.
Key findings
- Thousands of civil servants and their families face significant difficulties drawing on and collecting pension entitlements from the Civil Service Pension Scheme
- The Government terminated Capita's Royal Mail contract on 22 April 2026, raising questions about Capita's capacity to restore the CSPS to acceptable service levels
- A Cabinet Office/Capita 'urgent recovery plan' exists with set deadlines, the status of which the committees seek to investigate
- The committees consider accountability on these issues urgent ahead of the summer recess
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Simon Hoare MP, Capita, Cabinet Office, Public Accounts Committee, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Notable line
“… loyal and dedicated civil servants (and their families) should not be faced with the difficulties thousands now have been when trying to draw on and collect what is rightfully theirs”
Key Quotes
“… loyal and dedicated civil servants (and their families) should not be faced with the difficulties thousands now have been when trying to draw on and collect what is rightfully theirs”
“It is imperative that there is accountability on the issues ahead of the summer recess for the many of thousands impacted by the failures”
“Your statement to the House on 22 April, regarding the Government's termination of Capita's Royal Mail contract, although welcome, raises further questions regarding Capita's ability to deliver the CSPS back to acceptable service levels”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗