Badenoch and Strathspey women 'denied pension justice for too long'
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Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry has welcomed today's report that WASPI women – campaigning Women Against State Pension Inequality – should receive compensation.
Women born in the 1950s hit by the state pension age change are owed compensation and the government should "do the right thing", says the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report.
It suggests women should receive a payout of between £1,000 and £2,950.
The ombudsman has been looking at potential injustices resulting from the decision to raise women's retirement age to bring it into line with men's.
The government said it would consider the report and respond in due course.
The Department for Work and Pensions had "clearly indicated it will refuse to comply" on its payout proposal, which the Ombudsman said was "unacceptable".
And while the Omudsman can recommend compensation, he cannot enforce it.
"The Department must do the right thing and it must be held to account for failure to do so," the PHSO said.
Mr Hendry agreed. This afternoon he said: "For years women born in the 1950s have been fighting for pension justice, including over 7000 women living here in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey.
"Today's report confirms what we’ve all known for years, they have been denied justice for too long.
"Our pension system is predicated on the contract you put in, you get out. Successive governments broke that contract with the WASPI women, many of whom were left with their retirement plans in tatters."
The release of the PHSO report marked a significant step in the WASPI campaign, recognising the DWPs failures and the need for compensation for affected women, he said.
"Now we need the UK Government to act without further delay and rectify this wrong."
