South Cotswolds MP Leads Parliamentary Debate about State Pension Inequality, seeking Compensation for the Affected Women

On Monday 17 March, Roz Savage MP introduced a debate in Westminster Hall calling for compensation to women who were not properly notified that their state pension age would be increasing. 

In a compelling speech, Roz highlighted the plight of women born in the 1950s who had seen their state pension age rise from 60 to 65 or 66 and had not received sufficient notification from the Department of Work and Pensions about the change. 

The debate took place in response to a petition signed by 160,000 people, including over 250 in Roz’s South Cotswolds constituency.  The petition called for ‘the Government to fairly compensate women affected by the increases to their state pension age and the associated failings in DWP communications’. 

It follows a report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman published in March 2024, which concluded that “some women lost opportunities to make informed decisions about their finances,” this “diminished their sense of personal autonomy and financial control” and therefore led to injustice.  The Ombudsman recommended that compensation be paid to those who had suffered injustice as a result of this maladministration and asked Parliament to request the Government set up such a scheme. 

The Government responded in December 2024 and apologised for the maladministration in the form of delays in communicating pension age changes to affected women but rejected the conclusion that this was injustice and therefore refused to set up a compensation scheme as requested by the Ombudsman.  

The group Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) who have led the campaign to get redress for the affected women have begun a legal challenge to the Government’s decision to refuse to set up a compensation scheme. 

In her speech, Roz referenced the situation of her constituent, Marion Bond, whose divorce settlement was based upon the assumption she would retire at aged 60 rather than the correct age of 66 – an assumption she estimates has cost her £40,000. Roz told her fellow MPs:  

“The question of compensation for affected women is, at its core, a question of how we value women in our society. Women like Marion have devoted their lives to raising the next generation, both inside the home and out, and I firmly believe that this contribution to our economy cannot be underestimated. As a Liberal Democrat, and as a woman, I want to see a society where people’s hard work is rewarded fairly, regardless of gender.  

"In statements since the DWP’s announcement, ministers have said on multiple occasions that women experienced “no financial loss”. This is not true. Women lost the opportunity to make informed decisions about their own lives, which led to significant material loss in many cases.”  

In a powerful conclusion to her speech Roz said, “I’d like to remind MPs that more than 300,000 50’s born women have died since the WASPI campaign began. Another passes away on average every 13 minutes. The solution is clear: the Government must act now to compensate the affected women fairly - and swiftly.” 

Despite universal cross-party support for the WASPI cause, Torsten Bell MP, the Minister responding on behalf of the government, reiterated the government’s position that no compensation would be given. The WASPI women who were in the gallery during the debate affirmed their intention to pursue compensation through the courts. 

ENDS 

Note to Editors: 

• The full debate can be watched here.