Ministers asked for Waspi payout information

The Government has been urged to provide details of a compensation scheme for women affected by how state pension changes were communicated.

Last week, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) took the “rare but necessary” decision to ask Parliament to intervene over complaints that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had failed to provide accurate, adequate and timely information about state pension reform.

MPS from all sides of the Commons urged Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride to provide details of a compensation scheme for Waspi women as quickly as possible.

Conservative MP Nigel Mills (Amber Valley), a member of the Work and Pensions Committee, told the Commons: “I think this issue has gone on long enough and we need now to choose a compensation scheme and get this issue finished.”

He asked if the Government will have “made its mind up” before an autumn fiscal event.

Mr Stride said in his reply: “As to whether there is an autumn statement at all and the date thereof is not within my remit, and indeed I wouldn't be absolutely certain that any particular date or autumn statement is pencilled in or otherwise.”

Conservative former minister John Penrose said “speed is vital” in the Government's response.

He told MPS: “The Secretary of State has rightly pointed out that the actions in question between 20052007 didn't happen on his watch, didn't happen on any Conservative government's watch, but if he delays he will stop being part of the solution and start being part of the problem himself, and he will need all the understanding and the goodwill on both sides of this House that he can possibly muster.”