Labour issues NEW WASPI update over DWP compensation worth £2,950 each

A NEW update has been issued over the prospect of payouts from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) for WASPI women. The Department for Work and Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds has issued a key update in the Commons amid hopes fo £2950 payouts from the DWP following a Ombudsman report this year.

Ms Reynolds said: "In the course of conducting the business of her Department, the Secretary of State has many discussions with Cabinet colleagues. As stated on 07 October (Women’s State Pension Age: Compensation - Hansard - UK Parliament(opens in a new tab)), I am the first Minister in eight years to meet WASPI campaigners to hear their experiences directly.

"The Ombudsman’s report took five years to complete and deserves serious consideration. This Government respects the work of the Ombudsman and we are currently working through all aspects of the Ombudsman’s final report along with the evidence provided during the investigation."

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She said: "We need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation. We need to consider the views that have been expressed on all sides including the points raised by representatives from the WASPI Campaign who I met on the 5 ^th September.

"Once this work has been undertaken, the Government will be in a position to outline its approach." Ms Reynolds went on and added: "I met representatives from the WASPI campaign on the 5 ^th September. There are currently no future meetings planned."

Labour MP Jonathan Hinder told the Commons: “Women affected by the changes to the State Pension age continue to wait for clarity on the compensation recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in its March report.

“I appreciate the state that the public finances have been left in, and I acknowledge the complexity of this issue, but many of my constituents are concerned that justice is being further delayed. May we have a statement from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Government’s plans to respond to the report, and will MPs be given the opportunity to debate its findings and the next steps?”

Leader of the House, Lucy Powell acknowledged that the PHSO report was published in March, but requires “serious consideration by the Government”. However, she added: “I know that it is frustrating, but Ministers are actively doing that as we speak. Of course, once they are ready to do so, they will come to the House with a full response.”