Jack Dromey, shadow pensions minister, asked the government to introduce free bus travel for women affected by an increase in their state pension age.
The Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington said yesterday (2 July) in Parliament that “women born in the 1950s are the victims of a monumental pensions injustice”.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi), one of the principal campaign movements for these women, claims that while the 1995 Conservative government's Pension Act included plans to increase the women’s state pension age to 65 – the same as men's – the changes were implemented unfairly, with little or no personal notice.
The group also claimed the changes were implemented faster than promised with the 2011 Pension Act and left women with no time to make alternative plans, leading to devastating consequences.
Mr Dromey gave an example of a woman who is 62 and cannot retire until she is 66, and has “to do three cleaning jobs to make ends meet”.
He said: “At the very least, will the government follow the lead of the Labour mayor for Greater Manchester and introduce free bus travel for the women affected? They deserve better.”
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, introduced a Women’s Concessionary Travel Pass in April, which entitles women who were born between 6 October 1953 and 5 November 1954 to free off-peak travel on bus, train and Metrolink.
Guy Opperman, minister for pensions and financial inclusion, dismissed Mr Dromey’s request.
He said: “I merely repeat the point that I made previously: between 1997 and 2010, there was a Labour government.
“Not only did they support this policy, but they expanded it through the Pensions Act 2008, which, as the honorable gentleman knows full well, raised the state pension age.”
An All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on State Pension Inequality for Women, led by Labour MP Carolyn Harris, announced in May the proposals it will include in its private members’ Bill, which is tabled to be discussed in Parliament on 26 October.
The goal is to get the government to review pension arrangements for women born in the 1950s who have or will be financial disadvantaged by changes to equalise the state pension age between men and women, and consider costings for three solutions.
maria.espadinha@ft.com
