Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Women’s State Pension Age: Compensation

Monday 7 October 2024 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department met with Women Against State Pension Inequality campaigners for eight years to hear their experiences.
  • The Government needs time to carefully consider the ombudsman's report and evidence before outlining their approach.
  • The ombudsman's report took six years to complete and is being reviewed seriously by the Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Adrian Ramsay Green Waveney Valley
Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

The question concerns the recommendations made by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman regarding compensation for women whose state pension age was increased without adequate notice.

Question

What her Department's timetable is for responding to the recommendations on compensation made by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in his report on changes to women's state pension age.

Answer from Emma Reynolds

I was the first Minister for eight long years to meet Women Against State Pension Inequality campaigners to hear their experiences directly. However, we do need time to carefully consider the ombudsman's report and evidence before we can outline our approach.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timetable requested was not provided.

How: We Do Need Time

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Q2 Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford
Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

The question addresses the ongoing struggle of women born in the 1950s who have been impacted by the Department of Work and Pensions' changes to their state pension age.

Question

I have long supported women in Bedford born in the 1950s who have been failed by the DWP. We must do right by the WASPI women, some of whom are struggling to make ends meet. Will the Minister tell them today when the Government will respond to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which recommended a compensation scheme?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

The ombudsman's report is a serious report that took six years to complete and deserves serious consideration. We are carefully reviewing the details of that complex report and will come to a conclusion in the round.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timetable requested was not provided.

How: Serious Consideration, Carefully Reviewing

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Q3 Adrian Ramsay Green Waveney Valley
Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

The question highlights the ongoing struggles of women born in the 1950s who have been impacted by changes to their state pension age and the need for swift action.

Question

I echo the sentiments of the hon. Member for Bedford (Mohammad Yasin) on this serious injustice, which is being compounded by the lack of swift action for redress. It really matters to all our constituents, including mine in Norfolk and Suffolk, where I have spoken to the local WASPI women group, which highlighted just how a big an impact it is having, including on women born in the 1950s who are struggling to make ends meet. Will the Minister please set out the timescale by which she will respond to the report and the action that will be taken?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

The ombudsman took six years to look into what is a serious, significant and complex set of cases. We need time to look at that seriously, and we are doing precisely that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timetable requested was not provided.

How: Serious Consideration, Carefully Reviewing

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