Minister is urged to act quickly on Waspi aid
TORIES have called on ministers to set a date for paying compensation to women who were not properly told of a change to their retirement age.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride told the Commons he will “fully and properly” respond to an ombudsman report recommending payouts of up to £3,000 to theWaspi women (Women Against State Pension Inequality).
But he refused to guarantee the issue will be sorted out before the general election.
Mr Stride added a date is “not within my remit”, saying: “I wouldn’t be absolutely certain any date or Autumn Statement is pencilled in or otherwise.”
He said the Government will “continue to engage fully and constructively” with Parliament and added it is “only right we fully consider” the findings.
Fair
Mr Stride added: “This Government is committed to supporting pensioners in a sustainable way, providing them with a dignified retirement, whilst also being fair to them and to taxpayers.”
But Tory MP Nigel Mills, who sits on the work and pensions committee, told the Commons: “This has gone on long enough.
“We need now to choose a compensation scheme and get this issue finished.”
Fellow Conservative Siobhan Baillie agreed, saying: “At the heart of this is women saying they were left unable to plan or that their plans for the future were scuppered.
“It is right there’s a focus on laying out a timetable as soon as possible.”
The Parliamentary Ombudsman issued a damning report saying the women affected “lost opportunities to make informed decisions about their finances” but fears the DWP will not pay up.