The Government has issued a response to calls for a review into providing compensation for WASPI (Women against state pension inequality) women.
Labour MP Mark Hendrick asked Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride, about “whether he plans to undertake a review into the potential merits of issuing compensation to all women impact by changes to the state pension age”.
Several MPs backing the campaign told Express.co.uk this week that the Government should deliver compensation for the women as soon as possible.
Pensions minister Paul Maynard said in response to Mr Hendrick: “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.”
A report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman came out last month, recommending compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 for the 3.8 million women.
The report also called for Parliament to take up the issue and decide whether or not to grant compensation.
But some MPs think the WASPI women should get much more. SNP MP Marion Fellows told Express.co.uk: “It is a further stain on UK justice. A WASPI woman dies every 13 minutes.
“After all these years a £10,000 payment is what these women deserve. I have met with them and I have demonstrated with them. Now I want to see immediate action from the Government.”
The campaigners MPs made some progress last week as they secured a backbench debate on the question of granting compensation.
But there was also frustration for the cause as a bill to set out a framework for compensation levels tabled was due to have its second reading, but this was postponed.
Alan Brown, who was to present the bill for a second time, said: “The only reason I pushed the date of the second reading back was because I was too far down the order paper to be given any debate time.
“It is hugely frustrating how it works on a private members day, but the Government whips pretty much decide who will get an airing on the day.
“As we have seen in the past, they will filibuster to stop progress of bills. It’s a system that needs overhauled so we can have more debates on bills that the public have an interest in.”
The second reading for the bill has now been rescheduled for May 17. Mr Brown said: “May the 17th has the same risks that I will not get any debate time which is hugely frustrating.”
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