The Defence Investment Plan reaffirms the Department's commitment, set out in the Strategic Defence Review, to reduce civil service costs by 10% by 2030. Progress will be assessed using audited cost data at the end of each financial year, ensuring that performance is measured against actual expenditure rather than forecasts.

Financial data for financial year 2025-26 has been published in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts.

As of 30th June 2026, there are no Core Cabinet Office staff assigned to work in the Darlington Campus.

There is no mandatory or prescriptive policy regarding the use of pronouns in email signatures. General internal guidance on workplace communication simply notes that individuals may choose to include them, and any related conversations between colleagues should remain respectful and sensitive.

The Department has 2,114 civil servants assigned to 39 Victoria Street. 39 Victoria Street has 882 desks.

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government.

The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. The Government is taking robust action to hold Capita to account. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita.

To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser is being appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension benefits are unacceptable. We want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. The Government is taking robust action to hold Capita to account. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita. To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser is being appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

Capita has issued lump sum payments to 19,362 retired members awaiting their regular pensions, whilst the scheme continues to pay approximately 730,000 existing pensioners on time. To alleviate immediate hardship, employers have issued £16.2 million in Transitional Support Loans to 2,932 members, alongside interest-free bridging loans, ranging from £5,000 to an increased cap of £20,000. Members will fully repay these bridging loans upon receipt of their formal pension payments.

Existing civil servants who have partially retired or a civil servant who retired from 1 January 2025, can contact their employer to access the transitional support loan. The provision of these loans will continue while delays persist.

Pension scheme members not in scope of this loan scheme but who are at risk of experiencing financial hardship due to the delayed payment of their pension, should contact Capita and highlight the financial impact of these delays. Capita will then prioritise resolution of these cases.

For compensation, there is also a statutory complaints process that evaluates claims for financial loss, distress, and inconvenience on a case-by-case basis and is operated in strict accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.

The UK’s data protection legislation is a principles-based framework and does not prescribe specific consultation requirements for particular operational systems. Organisations are responsible for applying the requirements of the legislation within their own operational context and must ensure any processing of personal data complies with applicable legal requirements.

In the case of the Cabinet Office, there has been no consultation between the Cabinet Office and recognised trade unions regarding the introduction or use of automated decision making systems affecting staff.

However, it is acknowledged that the relationship between the Cabinet Office and recognised trade unions is of significant importance and that any potential future consultation on this subject will be conducted fully in line with the principles of the Cabinet Office and trade union partnership framework.

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government.

The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. The Government is taking robust action to hold Capita to account. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita.

To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser is being appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

As before, the target date for 2024/25 Preserved pension statements (or current value statements) for deferred members has not yet been agreed. If a deferred member would like a current value statement they can contact Capita for a copy.

Deferred members can still register onto the pensions portal to check their personal information, contact details and death benefit nominations are correct. When digital enhancements are available, members will be informed on the Civil Service Pensions website.

The purpose of the Partnership Framework is to set out principles regarding how Cabinet Office will work with Civil Service trade unions centrally on matters that impact the workforce of the Civil Service. The framework makes no reference to an increase in trade union membership in the Civil Service and it is not intended to reflect government policy on this matter.

The Government Skills Group, within the Cabinet Office, leads the civil service skills agenda and maintains data on learning and development activity delivered through its centrally managed contracts and systems.

There is no single central register for all training undertaken across all government departments. This is because of the technological barriers to aggregating learning and development data across departmental systems. Responsibility for maintaining records of local learning and development activity rests with individual government departments.

The Government Skills Group is committed to integrating learning and development data across the civil service in the future.

The Government remains committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to help deliver on our priorities.

Decisions on the use of temporary recruitment remain delegated to departments, and no amendments have been made to guidance for internal practices on the use of temporary promotions.

Paragraph 4.2.9 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out that Civil Servants who are elected national, departmental, or branch representatives or officers of a recognised trade union need not seek permission before publicising union views on an official matter which, because it directly affects the conditions of service of members of the union as employees, is of legitimate concern to their members. In all other circumstances, Civil Servants who hold a trade union role should carry out their duties within the standards set out in the Civil Service Code.

It is not routine to disclose correspondence between Ministers and any individual or organisation.

The Government does not hold Workforce Commission data specifically at Glasgow City Region level. The latest available data indicates approximately 2,800 civil servants in digital, data and technology roles across Scotland.

The Government's ambition is for Digital, Data and Cyber Professions to reach 10% of the Civil Service workforce by 2030, up from approximately 5.8% today. This is being taken forward through the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government and the forthcoming Digital Workforce 2030 Strategy, which set out plans to address workforce shortages, strengthen digital leadership, and improve recruitment, retention and cross-sector mobility.

This includes expanding entry and development routes such as TechTrack apprenticeships, the Digital Fast Stream, AI and Data Science Accelerator programmes, returnship opportunities, and access to learning and accreditation through initiatives such as Get Tech Certified and the Government Digital and Data Hub. The Government is also reforming the Digital, Data and Cyber Pay Framework and strengthening profession capability frameworks to support recruitment and retention of specialist talent.