Torsten Bell

Torsten Bell

Labour — Swansea West

Speaking in the House of Commons on 15 January 2025

Debate

Women’s Changed State Pension Age: Compensation

Contribution

If my hon. Friend will allow me to make some progress, I will come to exactly that point shortly. There was considerable awareness that the state pension age was increasing. I think everyone agrees on that even if they do not agree about the research itself. The research used by the ombudsman, from 2004, shows that 73% of people then aged 45 to 54 were aware that the state pension age was going up. Further research shows that, by 2006—when the ombudsman finds that the direct mailing should have begun—90% of women aged 45 to 54 were aware that the state pension age was increasing. We therefore cannot accept that, in the vast majority of cases—and I appreciate it is in the vast majority of cases—sending letters earlier would have affected whether women knew their state pension age was rising or increased their opportunities to make an informed decision. It would not be reasonable—

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