Women’s State Pension Age Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions
Monday 25th March 2024

(2 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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As my hon. Friend points out, the timing is important. I have made the commitment that we will proceed without undue delay.

Beth Winter Portrait Beth Winter (Cynon Valley) (Lab)
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Millions of women have suffered an injustice, including more than 200,000 in Wales and 4,000 in my constituency of Cynon Valley. While much of the ombudsman’s report is welcome, the compensation remedy is insufficient—indeed, it is insulting. In 2019, the Labour party pledged an average payment of £15,500. It is affordable, and the Government have saved in the region of £200 billion since the equalisation of the state pension age, yet they still have not pledged anything at all. Will the Minister please set a specific timeline so that we can have an urgent parliamentary process for MPs to set a compensation scheme that will give fair, appropriate and fast compensation to these women?

Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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On the timing, I have now given this reply from the Dispatch Box on several occasions: there will be no undue delay. On the specific matter that the hon. Lady raises relating to remedy, that is one of the findings within the report that, along with all the others, we will of course consider very carefully.