Norfolk and Suffolk MP slams lack of action for WASPI women

Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley, said the suffering of tens of thousands of women in Norfolk and Suffolk was "being compounded by the lack of swift action for redress".

The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaigners say women born in the 1950s were not adequately informed about the changes, so did not have enough time to replan for retirement.

A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found affected women should have had at least 28 months' more individual notice of the changes by the Department for Work and Pensions.

It also said that, for women who unaware of the changes, the opportunity for additional notice to give them time to adjust their retirement plans was lost due to delay.

The PHSO suggested compensation ranging between £1,000 and £2,950, could be appropriate for each of those affected.

Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsay (Image: Paul Geater)

But Mr Ramsay, co-leader of the Green Party, questioned ministers in Parliament about the delay in paying that compensation.

He said the "very serious injustice" was "being compounded by the lack of swift action for redress".

He told MPs: "It’s a matter that really matters to all our constituents, including mine in Norfolk and Suffolk, where I have spoken to the local Waspi women group, who highlight just how big an impact this is having, including on women born in the 1950s who are struggling to make ends meet.

"So, could I ask the minister to please set out the timescale with which she will take forward responding to this report and setting out the action that will be taken?"

READ MORE: Thousands of Norfolk pensioners in winter fuel payment plea

Emma Reynolds, work and pensions minister, replied: "The ombudsman took six years to look into what is a very serious, significant and complex set of cases, and we need time to look at this case very, very seriously, and we're doing precisely that."