Carmichael supports compensation for WASPI women
NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has added his support to a parliamentary motion calling for the new Labour government to compensate women affected by maladministration in changes to the state pension age.
In March this year the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended that the government should compensate women affected by failures to inform them of the changes to pension ages properly between 1995 and 2007, and it also called on the government to apologise for the failures.
The outgoing Conservative government however never did that before the 4 July general election.
The ombudsman’s report can be found here.
Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) have been campaigning on behalf of millions of women affected by the changes to the pension age.
In a parliamentary motion led by Carmichael’s party colleague Wendy Chamberlain, the North East Fife MP calls on the government to honour the ombudsman’s recommendations and bring forward a proper plan to compensate the women affected.
The motion reads: “That this House notes with concern the losses borne by 1950s women as a result of maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions; welcomes the findings of the independent inquiry of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; notes that on average over one hundred 1950s born women die daily, many of whom have suffered losses and die without compensation; and urges the Government honour the recommendations of the Ombudsman, and come forward with a proper plan to compensate these women.”
Carmichael said: “With a change in government there is now no excuse for inaction for women affected by government maladministration over the pension age changes.
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“Many Labour MPs are on record supporting the WASPI campaign so it would be beyond bizarre if they did not back the ombudsman’s report now.
“Ministers need to accept and act on what are ultimately pretty limited proposals for compensation.
“This issue is not going away so the incoming government would be wise to grasp the nettle and act. If ministers continue to stall then I suspect this matter will find itself before parliament in due course.”
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