Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 April 2026

Joint PAC-PACAC letter to the Minister for the Cabinet Office relating to the Civil Service Pensions scheme (CSPS)

From: Public Accounts Committee

Inquiry: Civil service pensions

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 examine problems with the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS). The committees seek accountability on administration failures affecting thousands of civil servants, Capita's role in recovery efforts, and progress against agreed deadlines following the Government's termination of Capita's Royal Mail contract.

Key findings

  • Thousands of civil servants and their families face difficulties accessing pension entitlements due to CSPS administration failures
  • The Cabinet Office and Capita have agreed an 'urgent recovery plan' with set deadlines that the committees wish to scrutinise
  • The Government terminated Capita's Royal Mail contract on 22 April 2026, raising questions about Capita's capacity to restore CSPS service levels
  • The committees have decided to meet jointly on 7 July 2026 to investigate CSPS administration before the summer recess

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-financepensionscivil-servicegovernment-operationsaccountability

Key actors

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Simon Hoare MP, Public Accounts Committee, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Capita, Cabinet Office

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
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP and Simon Hoare MP · describing the impact of CSPS administration 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
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP and Simon Hoare MP · expressing concern about Capita's capacity to fix the scheme
It is imperative that there is accountability on the issues ahead of the summer recess for the many of thousands impacted by the failures
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP and Simon Hoare MP · stating the purpose of the joint committee hearing
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗

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