New calls for parliamentary debate on State Pension age compensation for WASPI women
Two MPs used the final day of Parliament before the winter recess to call for a debate on State Pension compensation for millions of 1950s-born women across the country affected by changes to their retirement age. Since the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall apologised to 3.5 million women on behalf of the UK Government on December 17 there have been many calls for all MPs across the House to have their say on the matter - as per the Ombudsman’s recommendations.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) recommended compensation at level four of its banding scale - between £1,000 to £2,950 per person. However, both the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Kendall have said this would cost between £3.5 billion and £10.5 billion and is not fair on taxpayers.
READ MORE: WASPI women taking new legal advice after State Pension age compensation decision
READ MORE: PHSO ‘disappointed’ by DWP decision not to pay WASPI women State Pension age compensation
During Thursday’s Business of the House session, Labour’s Emma Lewell-Buck and the SNP’s Chris Law both called on Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, to schedule time for a parliamentary debate to give all MPs a chance to share their views on the PHSO’s report, and recommendations for compensation.
Ms Lewell-Buck (South Shields), said: “My right hon. Friend (Lucy Powell) will know full well the strength of feeling regarding this week’s announcement of no compensation for the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women. The Ombudsman was clear that Parliament should make the decision on remedy. Parliament has not. Will my right hon. Friend please find time for a debate so that we can do as the ombudsman has asked us to do?”
The Leader of the House replied: “I know that this is a really big issue for many women right across the country, and it has spanned multiple Parliaments. I know that many will be very disappointed by this week’s announcement, and we do not underestimate the strength of feeling and the upset that people will be feeling.
“I know it is difficult to hear, but paying flat-rate compensation to all women born in the 1950s, at a cost of up to £10.5 billion, would not be a fair or proportionate use of public money. The Government do not accept the Ombudsman’s findings on the remedy being necessary in this case. Colleagues can apply for debates on these matters in the usual way.”
Following up on her response, SNP MP Chris Law also pressed for a debate “as soon as possible” in accordance with the Ombudsman’s recommendations.
He said: “A new Government can make political choices, and one would have thought that, in the week before Christmas, they would be positive choices - things that people could take home and feel grateful and happy about on Christmas Day. However, as has just been mentioned by the hon. Member for South Shields (Emma Lewell-Buck), millions of women throughout the country, 1950s-born women, have been affected, quite adversely, in respect of their state pensions.
“Many are in ill health, and are continuing to work in ill health. They lived in hope for many years during their protracted, passionate and very reasonable campaign for fairness and justice, and on Tuesday this week they were told that they were getting none of it. We have an Ombudsman, which has made very clear, very fairly and decently, what amount should be paid in compensation, and has also made clear that the Department for Work and Pensions made errors at the time.”
The Dundee Central MP continued: “Since Tuesday, not only have we received emails, but Members of Parliament, particularly Government Members, have been deleting pages from their websites and Twitter accounts - the very pages that showed them campaigning out there with WASPI women, getting their photographs taken, doing videos, sending messages and so forth.
“Now they have no voice. They are frightened even to raise the issue in this House. May I therefore urge the Leader of the House and the Business Secretary to arrange a debate as soon as possible, a meaningful debate in Government time? No ifs, no buts; we all need to have our say on this.”
Ms Powell responded: “I understand the strength of feeling about this matter. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions came to the House first to make the announcement, as is appropriate, especially when it comes to a report from the parliamentary ombudsman which was laid before the House last March.
“The Government have considered that report in full and given it a great deal of thought, and there was time for Members to ask questions on Tuesday, but of course debates can be brought to the Floor of the House in many different ways, and I am sure that this issue will continue to be debated.”
It’s also worth noting that an online petition, created by the WASPI campaign at the end of November, and posted on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website, passed the 100,000 signature threshold to be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament, at the start of this month - 20 days ago.
The WASPI campaign are also seeking fresh legal advice following the UK Government’s decision not to award compensation and have vowed to continue fighting for justice for all women born in the 1950s affected by changes to their State Pension age.
You can read the full petition online here.
