Yahoo News WASPI State Pension debate on compensation due this month
Millions of women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the State Pension age could see developments in their calls for compensation later this month. MP Patricia Gibson, has confirmed a debate and vote is scheduled to take place in Parliament on Thursday, May 16.
Ms Gibson, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, presented an Early Day Motion to the Backbench Business Committee in April, aiming for the debate to reach an agreement, through a vote, that compensation should be paid to those affected. The debate will be held in the afternoon and Ms Gibson has urged her nearly 14,000 followers on social media to ask their MPs to attend.
In a post on X, Ms Gibson said: "My debate application, and vote to progress matters and the need to accept the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's (PHSO) report on the injustice inflicted on WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign) born in the 1950s, is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday 16th May. Ask your MP to attend."
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A vocal supporter of WASPI women in her constituency and across the country, Ms Gibson has seen her motion supported by 60 MPs from all political parties, reports the Daily Record.
She explained to the Backbench Business Committee that a debate is needed to agree in principle, that compensation should be paid to all impacted women, not on an actual redress figure at this stage. Following the publication of the PSO's final report on March 21, she expressed her disappointment that there has been "no commitment by either the current conservative government or the expected incoming Labour government to commit to even the principle of compensation."
Ms Gibson clarified that at this stage it's not about the figures for redress but rather about "accepting the findings of the report and how we move on from there".
She further added: "I think that the House (of Commons) needs to do what has been recommended in the report which is, and I quote "to act swiftly and make sure a compensation scheme is established as we think this will provide women with the quickest remedy".
Earlier this week, Martyn Day, an SNP MP, queried the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about when people could anticipate a response to the PHSO report.
In a written reply on Tuesday, DWP Pensions Minister Paul Maynard MP stated: "In laying the report before Parliament at the end of March, the Ombudsman has brought matters to the attention of this House, and a further update to the House will be provided once the report's findings have been fully considered.
"Alan Brown, another SNP MP, was scheduled to have the second reading of his State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill heard on April 19, but it has now been postponed until Friday, May 17. This rescheduling could result in two consecutive days in Parliament dedicated specifically to debates on State Pension compensation.
Humza Yousaf, Scotland's soon-to-be former first minister, assured WASPI campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament last month that the SNP "will not rest until they receive the justice they deserve".
He also revealed that he has penned letters to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, encouraging them to be "on the right side of history" by providing compensation for the women affected by alterations to the State Pension age.
