Government to reconsider decision to deny Waspi women compensation

Government ministers are to reconsider their decision not to award compensation to so-called Waspi women.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said the UK Government would look again at the decision to deny compensation to the women born in the 1950s, whose state pension age was raised so it would be equal to that of men.

He said “evidence” which was not shown to his predecessor, Liz Kendall, when she made the decision last December, had since come to light and needed to be considered.

The decision to refuse compensation was made despite a recommendation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) that the women should be paid up to £2,950 each, a package with a potential total cost of £10.5 billion to the public purse, as poor communication meant they had lost out on the chance to plan their retirement finances.

McFadden, however, suggested to MPs that reconsidering the decision did not mean the Government would end up awarding the women compensation.

He told the Commons: “Retaking this decision should not be taken as an indication that Government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress.

“The work will begin immediately, and I will update the House on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached.”

Scotland’s social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville accused the Labour Government of “dragging its feet”.

“This is yet another U-turn from a Labour Government which has completely lost control”, Sommervill said.

“It is clear that Labour are not retaking this decision because they want to – they are doing it because they have to. Labour should not be dragging their feet – women have waited long enough, and hundreds of thousands have died whilst waiting for justice.

“The Scottish Government will seek further details on the review announced today. We reiterate our calls for the UK government to immediately, and in full, honour the recommendations of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and deliver compensation for our WASPI women in full.”