Oral QuestionForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office

What steps her Department is taking to secure the release of British people detained abroad.

Tabled: 30 August 2022Answered: 6 September 2022

Asked by

Mohammad Yasin

LabourBedford

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Answer from Hansard

The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Sally Jameson)

I thank the hon. Member for raising that case. As I have said, Capita’s performance is diabolical. I will not make any excuses for it from the Dispatch Box —there are no excuses for it—but we are holding Capita to account every day. As I said, we have deployed 147 surge staff to help during this crisis—they will not be removed until service levels are brought up to scratch—we are withholding contractual payments, and an independent Capita-funded remedial adviser has been appointed to identify further issues. If the hon. Lady writes to me about that case, I will ensure that it is escalated.