Women’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO Report

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The MP asked if the Minister could give assurances that people will not be treated unfairly under future state pension age changes and whether there would be a proper impact assessment.

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The MP inquired about how women affected by these delays could take advantage of any compensation scheme if such a decision was made in the future.

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The MP questioned whether any women who were not aware of changes and suffered as a result would be compensated through other means.

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The MP asked if the Government would compensate women who did not receive letters in time or were unaware of changes.

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Will the Government put forward any other non-financial form of remedy for the women affected? Will the Secretary of State be involving the WASPI campaigners in the action plan?

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Can my right hon. Friend assure my constituents that a serious case like this will not occur again?

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Will the Secretary of State reflect on the decision?

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Does the Secretary of State accept accountability for the maladministration?

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The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report says what many WASPI women across my constituency have been saying for years, which is that between 2005 and 2007 the DWP and the last Labour Government let them down. I am therefore grateful to the Secretary of State for her apology, but that will come as cold comfort to those who are in this situation in the face of no financial compensation. If I am right in what I hear, she says mitigation is too complicated and that it is someone else’s fault. That will be no comfort to those impacted. What conversations does the Secretary of State plan to have with the WASPI women to see what more support can be put in place for those most impacted?

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The all-party parliamentary group on state pension inequality has found that huge numbers of women have suffered significant financial hardship; many have even lost their homes. The Secretary of State must realise that her apology is welcome, but that it is not enough for them. Frankly, it is unprecedented for a Government to agree with the findings of an ombudsman on the one hand, but, on the other, to refuse to initiate redress when clear injustice has occurred. What will the Secretary of State say to reassure those women who have lost everything?

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Last month, the word “WASPI” made it into the Collins English Dictionary, which is a credit to the campaigners behind it. Does the Secretary of State agree that she has gone through the ombudsman’s report with, to use her own words, a fine-toothed comb, in order to get the answer that she always wanted to find in the first place?

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This is undoubtedly a tough choice. It is welcome that the Government will seek to learn the lessons and develop a new strategy for clear and timely comms. Will the Secretary of State reassure the House not only that the strategy will be comprehensive, but that those with accessibility requirements are properly informed of any changes?

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The Secretary of State says in her statement: “Research given to the ombudsman shows only around a quarter of people who are sent unsolicited letters actually remember receiving and reading them.” I would like to know the terms of that research. Did it, for example, say on the envelope, “Important financial information affecting your pension”? If something like that were on an envelope, I think that there would be a very different response rate.

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In the framing of my question to the Secretary of State, I first wish to say that I am appalled by this announcement. I have campaigned with WASPI women, as have many parliamentary colleagues, and this is an incredible let down for them. In my opinion, WASPI women certainly do not need words of disappointment and hollow statements. What they need is justice.

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It is a gross understatement for the Secretary of State to say that 1950s women will be disappointed, especially given that this new Government are setting a precedent by ignoring an independent resolution process. I signpost constituents to the ombudsman on a regular basis; we all do. It is one of the ways that we hold the Government and Government bodies to account, and it is a core part of our democracy.

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The Government are right to have apologised to WASPI women today and my right hon. Friend is also right to have acknowledged the significant disappointment that will be felt. What is important is that this Labour Government are acting to boost pension pots across the country.

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Anas Sarwar said that, under his leadership, WASPI women will finally receive the justice they deserve. Is the justice they deserve being paid less than their male counterparts throughout their career? Is the justice they deserve being sacked or forced to resign from their jobs when they had children? Is the justice they deserve the removal of the winter fuel payment?

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This will be a sad moment for the 4,000 women in Stoke-on-Trent Central who I have campaigned alongside for justice and a fair transition. Is this decision due to economic circumstances or is it an absolute refusal of compensation? Will future considerations about revisiting the issue be made if financial conditions improve?

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Will the Secretary of State commit to having a binding vote in this House on the decision regarding compensation for WASPI women? The previous government provided compensation when similar judgments were made against Equitable Life.

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What reassurances can the Secretary of State give WASPI women that we will do everything we can to support them and ensure such issues do not happen again?

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Does the Secretary of State agree that it turns out they have neither probity nor decency as believed by millions of women who supported Labour?

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Is this another example of difficult but necessary decisions that former Ministers and current shadow Ministers ran away from?

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How long will this Government give excuses for not doing things because of previous governments? The ombudsman has found in favour. Cannot hide behind saying that “We have no money”.

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The report is about communication methods. Earlier letters would have made differences in financial planning, retirement dates, notice to jobs, and family arrangements. Will she reconsider that at some point?

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What will she say to WASPI women disappointed at her rejection of any compensation, even if not at the level recommended?

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Why did she not feel it was possible to put an individualised compensation scheme in place for the 10% who did not realise?

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How does the Secretary of State think that any pensioner in this country can have faith in a Government who have taken away winter fuel allowance and now do not respect injustice done to WASPI women?

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Asks how the Government plan to support carers over the coming months and years, highlighting the challenges faced by women in caring responsibilities.

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Questions if there are any further steps to ensure women can enjoy levels of security in retirement closer to equal those of their male counterparts.

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Asks for assurance that maladministration leading to this injustice will not happen again.

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Inquires about the assessment of overruling the ombudsman’s decision on trust issues.

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Acknowledges disappointment but emphasises the importance of the pension triple lock compared to previous Conservative Government’s breaking of it.

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Expresses concern about the impact of this decision on 1950s-born women and asks for specific benefits.

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Questions how WASPI women can believe there’s no compensation when additional borrowing is announced.

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Charges betrayal and a lack of trust in politics due to this decision.

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Critiques the timing of this decision as well as questions about future pension age increases.

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Expresses disappointment and lack of trust due to this decision.

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Asks if today's announcement is a fair solution for WASPI women based on past campaign promises.

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In July, this country overwhelmingly voted for a change, but it is getting more of the same—more failure and more austerity. Nothing has changed apart from the excuses. It is no wonder that the Prime Minister’s approval rating has plummeted to minus 66%. Given that Labour has recently removed even more money from our pensioners’ pockets by taking away the winter fuel payment, will the Secretary of State please reconsider this betrayal and compensate the WASPI women?

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The constituents I represent include thousands of WASPI women who will be disappointed by today’s statement. A number of references have been made to the campaigning that the Secretary of State has done with WASPI women. Does she feel regret that she has led them up the garden path towards believing that they might get some compensation, and while she has apologised for the Government’s part in the maladministration, will she apologise directly to the WASPI women in her constituency?

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Many, many WASPI women will be appalled by the Secretary of State’s statement. When they look at today’s proceedings, would they be right in concluding that this Government were prepared to resolve the pensions of mineworkers, but not those of WASPI women?

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I am sure that the 69-year-old who contacted me explaining how she had missed out on being able to care for her dying mother due to needing to work longer would have welcomed a letter giving her enough notice to plan her finances to allow otherwise. What support can the Secretary of State offer WASPI women, who are still disproportionately taking on caring responsibilities?

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I do not think I have ever seen quite so many glum faces on the Labour Benches, not for the two-child benefit cap or the winter fuel payment—this is beyond the pale. A handful of Labour Members have stood up and spoken their mind on this issue, and I commend them on that, but the Secretary of State has not answered the question of whether this House will be given a debate and a vote, which should happen in Government time.

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I and my colleagues on the Liberal Democrat Benches thought that today’s statement might be an early Christmas present for the WASPI women in my constituency and across the country. All those women will now be understandably devastated, and will be asking the same question: if the ombudsman has ruled that they were to have financial redress because of the maladministration and the Government are willing to ignore that finding, what else are this Government willing to ignore?

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The Secretary of State has repeated time and again what this statement is not about, but what it is about is this Government not listening to the WASPI women and this Government not listening to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. In the Secretary of State’s statement, she said she will develop a detailed action plan out of the report. Considering that the report missed two thirds of this, especially the financial redress scheme, what action plan is she developing?

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Maladministration is a serious charge. I know the Secretary of State has taken a 360° pummelling on this, but she has declined to say that she would have compensated women if the economy were stronger, and she said it would not have made any difference if the letters had been sent. Surely, however, the overall charge of maladministration applies to the broader fact that women born in the 1950s did not know about these changes. Does she therefore agree with me that the failure is about not the channel, but the message?

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Is not the appalling message from the Government today that maladministration pays? If, as here, we have nationwide maladministration and no consequences, what other conclusion could one reach?

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I say to the Secretary of State that this is neither fair nor right; this is a betrayal. Today, my thoughts are with the brave, dogged campaigners of WASPI Argyll and the Isles, particularly Ann Greer, who has worked so hard for so many years seeking justice.

Question

The right hon. Member expresses disappointment with the Government's stance towards WASPI women, highlighting that while Labour Members previously supported these pensioners, no tangible relief has been provided six months into the new Government. The MP questions why the Government continues to suppress the rights of these women despite recommendations from the ombudsman and emphasises the need for action rather than an apology.