Gordon MP’s dismay as pensions minister rejects call to start compensation preparations for WASPI women
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
"The findings to date excoriate the UK Government and if they had any moral compass at all they would surely start the compensation process now. "
Gordon MP Richard Thomson has reacted with dismay after the Minister for Pensions rejected his call to start the process of issuing compensatory payments to WASPI women affected by the changes to their state pensions.
During 2021, the findings of an investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, condemned the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for “maladministration” in relation to changes to women’s state pensions.
The Ombudsman’s findings vindicated the campaign by WASPI and condemned the DWP for failing to provide “accurate, adequate and timely” information about changes to the state pension age for women.
Following research carried out for the WASPI campaign by Statista which show a quarter of a million women have died waiting for pension compensation, Mr Thomson urged Pensions Minister Laura Trott MP to start the process of implementing compensatory payments, or interim payments, to those affected.
Commenting, Richard Thomson MP said: “Some of the comments I received directly or were posted online by those affected after I made a similar approach to the previous Minister were simply heart-rending.
"It should shame the UK Government into taking action when WASPI women are telling stories of losing friends or relatives before they have been able to retire and enjoy life because of the changes to pension age.
“The Pensions Minister must see that being in a state of preparedness to pay out compensation does not prejudge the Ombudsman’s conclusions.
"While I appreciate the Ombudsman’s work is not yet complete, the findings to date excoriate the UK Government and if they had any moral compass at all they would surely start the compensation process now.
"It would simply be the right thing to do for those affected.
“I know the WASPI women are determined to continue their fight for justice and I shall continue to look for ways to assist them in their campaign.”
