Caroline Spelman MP has joined MPs from across the House of Commons to form a new Parliamentary group on the State Pension Age. The new group will work to positively support those women hit by the accelerated equalisation of the State Pension Age, first in 1995 and then in 2011.
In Meriden constituency alone, around 4,510 women are directly affected by the 2011 Pensions Act alone. Across Solihull Borough 722 local residents signed the e-petition calling for transitional arrangements, which received almost 200,000 signatures nationwide.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign works to lobby the Government to introduce transitional arrangements for those women affected, many of whom were not notified about the changes, and took early retirement, leaving them without any income.
The Parliamentary Group, which was launched at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 11th May at a standing room only meeting, will be co-chaired by MPs from each of the parties, and will work closely with the WASPI campaign.
The All-Party Group will seek to work with the new Work and Pensions Secretary, Stephen Crabb, to introduce transitional arrangements.
Speaking at the launch of the new campaign group, Caroline said:
“A number of local residents have contacted me to raise their concerns over the recent changes to the women’s state pension and qualifying age.”
“I have been working behind the scenes in parliament to try and resolve some of the concerns that have been brought forward and am proud to be a founding member of this new Parliamentary campaign group”.
“This Government has a good record standing up for pensioners through the introduction of measures such as the Triple Lock, and by continuing to provide free television licences and concessionary travel passes. I therefore I have high hopes that the new Work and Pensions Secretary will listen and act upon the concerns will we bring forward, and that we will soon have the equitable outcome that the WASPI women deserve.”