Calls to establish a compensation scheme for women affected by changes to the state pension age could be pushed to a symbolic Commons vote next week.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn wants to introduce the Women’s State Pension age (Ombudsman report and compensation scheme) Bill to the Commons for further consideration.
His proposed bill would require ministers to publish measures to address the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report, which recommended the government pay compensation to women born in the 1950s whose state pension age was raised so it would be equal with men.
How would it work?
The watchdog said the women should be paid up to £2,950 each, a package with a potential total cost of £10.5bn to the public purse, as poor communication meant they had lost out on the change to plan their retirement finances.
But the government last month ruled out a compensation package despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves being among the senior ministers to support the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign when Labour was in opposition.
Mr Flynn will seek permission on 28 January to introduce his bill to the Commons for further consideration.
A Commons vote on Mr Flynn’s motion under the 10-minute rule process would not force a change, but could highlight the level of unhappiness among Labour backbenchers over the government’s stance.
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