The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones MP, declared on BBC Breakfast that there is “more work to be done” in formulating an adequate compensation plan for the millions of 1950s-born women affected by changes to their State Pension age. Speaking on the favoured morning programme on Monday, Mr Jones communicated the need for greater detail surrounding eligibility for remuneration or the creation of “different types of schemes that might need to be designed” to help individuals in varying situations.
Yet, he informed viewers that Liz Kendall MP, the fresh Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has already made strides towards tackling this issue. His remarks came in response to presenter Jon Kay’s enquiry about the much-discussed WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign) and their quest for State Pension compensation.
Mr Jones replied: “Before the election, the Ombudsman reported on some of the processes WASPI women were subject to about the change in the [State] Pension age, what we haven’t got to yet is a level of report or detail about the eligibility for compensation or the different types of schemes that might need to be designed to support people who are in different circumstances.”
He also noted: “There’s more work to be done on that (State Pension) and my colleague the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has already talked about picking up that work and taking it forward.”
Jon Kay pointed out that many are eagerly awaiting the announcement of a compensation plan, questioning why there has been a delay now that Labour is in power, reports the Daily Record.
Mr Jones responded by reminding that the Labour Government has only been in power for three days and asked for some patience. He stated that while in Opposition, they could only encourage the Conservatives to act but assured that Labour will address the State Pension compensation issue.
Last week, Angela Madden, Chair of the WASPI campaign, called on new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer not to disappoint millions of women born in the 1950s who are waiting for a compensation plan. She urged the Labour Government not to overlook the landmark report published by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in March, which instructed the Conservative government to apologise and implement a compensation plan without delay.
Ms Madden stated: “Hundreds of candidates who actively support WASPI’s calls for fair and fast compensation have been elected to this new Parliament. This includes over 70 Liberal Democrat MPs who have been steadfast in their commitment to 1950’s-born women and we look forward to working with them to achieve justice.”
“With this definitive majority, Labour has been given a strong mandate for delivering change. It is time for them to make good on their MPs’ and candidates’ record of support to deliver a compensation scheme in the first 100 days of this Parliament.”
She continued: “Anything else would be to let down millions of 1950s-born women at the very first hurdle and ignoring the government’s own independent watchdog would set the wrong tone for a government looking to make change. “.
The PHSO recommended compensation equivalent to Level 4 on its banding scale, which is worth between £1,000 and £2,950.
