State Pension Age: Women
Debate between Ian Blackford and Caroline Spelman(7 years, 5 months ago)
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Ian Blackford
I will in a second. This is about all of us recognising that, as a House, we have a responsibility to do the right thing. It is about giving encouragement to the Government, just as happened last year with tax credits when we realised that we were going to be punishing hard-working families, to do the right thing by the women affected by this issue. That is what the Government have to listen to and respond to in the autumn statement.
Dame Caroline Spelman
Further to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Peter Aldous), the fact that this issue kicks in at the latter stages of a woman’s career, when her caring responsibilities can increase significantly because of elderly parents and her own health may start to deteriorate, means that the level of uncertainty and anxiety is greatly increased. Suddenly, the prepared-for pension does not materialise, and women with caring responsibilities are left in limbo.
Ian Blackford
The right hon. Lady makes a valid point, and I will come later to the notice period because the issues are both the lack of time that women have had to prepare for the changes and the caring responsibilities that many women in particular have. She is right to raise that point. I will take one more intervention and then move on.
Implementation of the 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts
Debate between Ian Blackford and Caroline Spelman(7 years, 6 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Dame Caroline Spelman (Meriden) (Con)
I, too, out of solidarity, wish to declare an interest. I rise to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of Meriden, but also of the Burton WASPI group, in the same terms as the hon. Member for Worsley and Eccles South.
The Petition of residents of Meriden.
[P001837]
Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (SNP)
I rise to present this petition on behalf of the residents of Ross, Skye and Lochaber in the same terms as the hon. Member for Worsley and Eccles South. It is gratifying to see so many women signing the petition and so many Members in the House today. Let us hope that the Government listen, do the right thing and use the surplus in the national insurance fund to bring forward mitigation.
The Petition of residents of Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
[P001848]