Millions of women born in the 1950s have been awaiting a response from successive UK governments since March, when the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) ruled it had found the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was guilty of ‘maladministration’ for failing to properly inform women about the increase in State Pension age from 60 to 65, and later to 66.
In September, Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds met with representatives from the WASPI campaign (Women Against State Pension Inequality), but there has been silence on when the Government will address the report or discuss potential compensation. Recent MP inquiries suggest any major updates may be postponed until early next year.
The PHSO report stressed that “Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy” and recommended compensation at Level four of its scale, which could mean payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950. Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that approximately 3.5 million women have been affected by the pension age adjustments.
During this week’s Business of the House session in Parliament, Labour MP Jonathan Hinder made an impassioned plea to both his party and the Government, demanding “clarity on compensation” as per the PHSO’s recommendations. He also pushed for MPs to have the opportunity to debate the report’s findings and the actions that should follow, reports the Daily Record.
The MP for Pendle and Clitheroe made a direct appeal in the Commons, highlighting: “Women affected by the changes to the State Pension age continue to wait for clarity on the compensation recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in its March report.”
He went on to urgently press: “I appreciate the state that the public finances have been left in, and I acknowledge the complexity of this issue, but many of my constituents are concerned that justice is being further delayed. May we have a statement from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Government’s plans to respond to the report, and will MPs be given the opportunity to debate its findings and the next steps? ” Responding to this, Lucy Powell, Leader of the House, recognized the significance of the PHSO’s March report and informed that it demands “serious consideration by the Government”.
She did, however, offer some reassurance, stating: “I know that it is frustrating, but Ministers are actively doing that as we speak. Of course, once they are ready to do so, they will come to the House with a full response.”
The question of when a detailed response would be forthcoming was also raised in written inquiries addressed to the DWP, which received a response on Thursday.
Lib Dem shadow work and pensions spokesperson Steve Darling asked if discussions had taken place between Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and Leader of the House Lucy Powell about scheduling a debate on financial redress before the winter recess on December 19. The Pensions Minister replied that she regularly has “many discussions with Cabinet colleagues” and highlighted her engagement as the “first Minister in eight years to meet WASPI campaigners to hear their experiences directly”.
She added: “The Ombudsman’s report took around five years to complete and deserves serious consideration. This Government respects the work of the Ombudsman and we are currently working through all aspects of the Ombudsman’s final report along with the evidence provided during the investigation.”
Conservative MP Stuart Anderson received the same response when he asked about conversations between the DWP head and Chancellor Rachel Reeves regarding a compensation scheme for women affected by state pension age changes. The WASPI campaign has announced a protest in Parliament Square on October 30, ahead of the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget, which will be presented by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the House of Commons.
WASPI campaigners are preparing to stage a protest from 12pm to 3pm, demanding compensation for all women born in the 1950s who were impacted by alterations to their State Pension age. The ‘WASPI can’t wait – compensate’ demonstration is the most recent attempt by activists to keep up the pressure for a compensation scheme, as suggested by the PHSO.
