Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has informed MPs that he “understands the strong feelings” in Parliament over the lack of response to the recently published final report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) on the impact of increases to the State Pension age for women born in the 1950s.
PM Acknowledges Urgency for State Pension Compensation for 1950s Women
During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, he acknowledged the “desire for urgency in addressing them” but stressed that an update “will be given to the House once those findings have been fully considered”.
The PM's response came after the SNP's Chris Law noted that it had been over a month since the PHSO released its long-awaited report. Following a protracted inquiry, the PHSO stated that the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) failed to communicate effectively women's State Pension age changes, and those who are impacted are entitled to compensation.
The Ombudsman has requested that Parliament “act swiftly” to ensure that a compensation plan is formed in light of its findings.
The Dundee West MP stated: “Women born in the 1950s in my constituency and indeed in every constituency across these islands, are still waiting to hear whether the UK Government will listen to its recommendations and deliver compensation.
“I was proud to see the Scottish Parliament support a motion last week calling for compensation to be delivered without delay, but utterly dismayed to see members of both the Conservative party and the Labour Party abstain.
“Can the Prime Minister finally tell us when the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign — the WASPI women — will receive the compensation that they rightly deserve?”
Mr Sunak's response included: “I understand the strong feelings across the Chamber about this topic, and the desire for urgency in addressing them.
“However, following the ombudsman’s five-year investigation, it is imperative that we take the time to conduct a thorough review of the comprehensive findings that have been published.
“An update will be given to the House once those findings have been fully considered.”
The PM continued: “More broadly, we are committed to ensuring that pensioners have the dignity and security in retirement that they deserve. Most recently, we increased the State Pension by £900 a year, thanks to the triple lock.
WASPI Campaign Spurs Parliamentary Debate on Compensation for 1950s Women
WASPI campaigners Angela Madden and Jane Cowley proposed a “two-pronged” compensation plan during a session with the Work and Pensions Committee. They suggested a first element offering tiered compensation based on the wait time for State Pension and notice given for the change.
Additionally, they proposed a second element for those demonstrating “direct financial loss.” While the PHSO recommended compensation at Level 4, some, including SNP's Alan Brown, advocate for Level 6 compensation, starting at £10,000.
Speaking in favour of the WASPI campaign, Conservative MP and Chair of the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) on Women's State Pension Inequality, Peter Aldous, told the Committee: “There should be a bell-curve where those who received least notice of longest delay get most and those who got the longest notice of a shorter increase should receive a lesser amount. That would be the approach I would suggest.”
Rebecca Long-Bailey, a Labour MP and co-chair of the APPG, stated: “There clearly has been direct financial loss to affected women. The PHSO has made its decision on direct loss based on its own guidance; that’s not statutory and therefore can be amended by Parliament. What WASPI is proposing would be a fair system, ensuring everyone affected gets something and those worst affected get the most.”
Commenting following the session, WASPI chair Angela Madden said: “We welcome the serious and thorough questions asked today by members of the Work and Pensions Select Committee and the cross-party support for our approach. It is now for the government to give proper time to Parliament to debate and vote on a fair compensation scheme. The DWP cannot just keep ignoring us.”
SNP MP Patricia Gibson has stated that a debate and vote will be taking place in Parliament on Thursday, May 16.
Last month, the North Ayrshire and Arran MP brought an Early Day Motion to the Backbench Business Committee, expecting that the debate would at least result in a vote agreeing that reparation should be provided to those women affected by the amendments.
Ms Gibson also announced that the discussion would occur in the afternoon and invited her social media followers to contact their MP to attend.