ABERDEENSHIRE North and Moray East MP Seamus Logan has called on the new Minister for Pensions to start the process of making compensatory payments to women affected by the changes to the State Pension age.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign was founded in 2015 on behalf of women born in the 1950s who were affected by the changes to the State Pension Age. The decision by Westminster to accelerate the timetable for increases in the women’s State Pension Age meant some women lost opportunities to make informed decisions about their finances.
A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman stated that it “has made a finding of failings by DWP in this case and has ruled that the women affected are owed compensation.” Furthermore, PHSO Chief Executive Rebecca Hilsenrath added that regarding the decision to compensate, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “Has clearly indicated that it will refuse to comply. This is unacceptable… Parliament now needs to act swiftly, and make sure a compensation scheme is established.”
Now, newly-elected MP Seamus Logan, who highlighted the WASPI campaign in his first speech to Parliament last Wednesday, has written to the new Minister for Pensions, Emma Reynolds.
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP Seamus Logan commented:
“SNP MPs in Westminster have persistently pressed the UK Government to address the injustice faced by WASPI women, who have been struggling for years. As the report by the Ombudsman makes clear, the fault lies with the DWP and successive UK Governments.
“As a new MP, I will absolutely continue to press the UK Government to do the right thing, compensate the WASPI women and put right this injustice.
“Too many people have died whilst waiting for what should have been their right and entitlement. I hope that this new government will take the opportunity to make this issue a priority. I will certainly be pressing for that to happen.”
