Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been asked about when WASPI (Women against state pension inequality) women will get compensation.
SNP MP Chris Law asked him during Prime Minister’s Questions this week: “Can the Prime Minister finally set out when the WASPI women will receive the compensation they rightly deserve?”
He also referred to a motion passed by the Scottish Government calling for “compensation in full” for the 3.8 million women.
Mr Sunak said in response: “I understand the strong feelings across the Chamber on 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 thoroughly review the comprehensive findings that have been published.”
He added: “An update to the House will be provided once the report’s findings have been fully considered.”
A long-awaited report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman came out in March recommending payments of between £1,000 and £2,950, and calling on Parliament to take action on the question of compensation.
Several MPs are backing the WASPI cause with one MP previously telling Express.co.uk they should get payouts of £10,000 or more.
The PM also said in his response: “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.”
Members of the PHSO appeared before a committee in Parliament this week and said there could be a case for some of the WASPI women to get payments above the levels they set out in the report.
Interim PHSO ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath told the Work and Pensions Committee: “The findings that the recommendations that we made were based on the sample cases that we dealt with.
“We did not find any incidence there of direct financial loss but we don’t exclude that possibly being the case in relation to other cases.”
WASPI chair Angle Madden told Express.co.uk after the comittee meeting: “There are women that we know have lost out financially. We think a lot of women have suffered direct financial loss.
“If like me you’d given up a full time job to look after a frail parent or someone else, that feels like a financial loss, that feels like a huge financial decision.”
For the latest personal finance news, follow us on Twitter at @ExpressMoney_.
