PHSO clear that women affected by state pension changes must be compensated – Carmichael

Responding to the report released today by the independent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, that recommended that the government should compensate women affected, Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael said:

“The findings of the independent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman today are clear: the government failed to provide accurate, adequate and timely information to women affected by the state pension changes. The roots of this problem go back to the 1990s when the Conservative government first chose to change pension ages and then later governments failed to communicate those changes.

“The Ombudsman is equally clear that those affected deserve compensation. It is hard to see how the government can reject that basic conclusion at the very least.

“The women involved have tirelessly campaigned for justice and deserve our admiration for their persistence. Ministers would be wise to think carefully about their next steps.

“Suggestions from the Ombudsman that the government is attempting to avoid complying with its ruling are extremely concerning. If ministers continue to stall then I suspect this matter will find itself before Parliament in due course.”

The Ombudsman has recommended that the government apologise and pay compensation to women affected by the increase in the state pension age, because the changes were not communicated properly between 1995 and 2007.

The watchdog has suggested that Parliament may need to intervene if the government refuses to implement the findings.