Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

State Pension Equality

Wednesday 15 May 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions have regular discussions about state pension inequality.
  • The new state pension introduced in 2016 aims to improve outcomes for many women.
  • Pension outcomes for men and women are expected to equalize by the early 2040s.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford
Benefits & Welfare
Context

MP Mohammad Yasin has raised concerns about state pension inequality, specifically impacting women in the WASPI campaign.

Question

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on state pension equality. Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions continue to have regular discussions about state pension inequality. We introduced the new state pension in 2016, which improves outcomes for many women. Outcomes will equalise for men and women by the early 2040s—more than a decade earlier than under the previous system.

Answer from Mims Davies

Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions continue to have regular discussions about state pension inequality. We introduced the new state pension in 2016, which improves outcomes for many women. Outcomes will equalise for men and women by the early 2040s—more than a decade earlier than under the previous system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not address recent discussions specifically with the Secretary of State or provide concrete next steps.

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Q2 Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Women in the WASPI campaign are facing severe financial hardship due to state pension inequality, leading to a call for immediate compensation.

Question

Some WASPI women in Bedford are living in severe financial hardship, having had their pension income stolen, in some cases twice. Their right to compensation has been tested and won. Given that a WASPI woman dies every 13 minutes, does the Minister agree that a compensation scheme needs to be set up immediately? It should not be a one-size-fits-all package, but it must be simple, clear and easy to operate.

Answer from Mims Davies

I know that this issue is very emotive. For all of us with constituents who are worried about their pension age, I remind them that pension credit provides a safety net for people on low incomes, so they should look at the benefits calculator on gov.uk. There will be a full debate on the ombudsman's report tomorrow, and the Government will take all views into account as we identify and implement the next steps. The ombudsman's report is complex and substantial, and the investigation covers 30 years. I appreciate that all parties want to see the situation resolved as quickly as possible. As the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has said, there will be no undue delay, and we will be listening to everyone.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not directly address whether a compensation scheme needs to be set up immediately or provide specific details on such a scheme.

How: We Are Committed To Resolving The Situation As Quickly As Possible, Taking All Views Into Account

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