WASPI campaigners have vowed to continue to pressure MPs to deliver compensation for the thousands of women affected by the issue.
A long-awaited report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended the WASPI (Women against state pension inequality) generation of state pensioners should get compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950.
DWP minister Mel Stride was quizzed about the question of compensation yesterday (April 8) with the politician refusing to commit to a timeframe for a decision on payouts.
Angela Madden, chair of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign, told Express.co.uk: “The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride said on Monday morning the Government needs ‘sufficient time’ to react to the Ombudsman’s report.
“This is astounding considering the Government has had years to make preparations for these recommendations.”
She said the campaigners will push on to urge action from MPs. Ms Madden said: “Throughout the campaign, WASPI has enjoyed strong support from MPs across the Commons.
“However, the two main parties in Westminster have so far not taken the opportunity to follow many of their backbenchers in committing to fair and fast compensation.
“More than 200,000 WASPI supporters have called on the Leader of the Commons to hold an urgent vote in Parliament so compensation can be delivered without delay and to give MPs a chance to debate any proposals from ministers.
“A vote in Parliament would force DWP ministers to act and deliver justice to the 3.6 million affected women and we look forward to working with the many MPs who have been in touch over the Easter recess to hold the Government’s feet to the fire.
“With a potential General Election within months, WASPI women will be watching closely at the political response to our calls when MPs return to Westminster next week.”
The 8.5 percent increase in state pension payments just a few days ago has again raised the question of how the policy will be paid for in future.
Mr Stride has come under fire from one of his own constituents, a woman named Avril who wrote to him to voice her anger at the fact the state pension is now classed as a benefit.
The 77-year-old told LBC: “I said to him, this is ridiculous. It’s not a benefit, it’s something that we have paid in for.
“When I paid in for it, it was deemed a pension as a private pension, so you got it at the age you got it.”
A person typically needs 30 years of National Insurance contributions to get the full basic state pension, of £169.50 a week, or 35 years of contributions to get the full new state pension, of £203.85 a week.
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