This is the moment DWP boss Mel Stride was grilled on why the Government is yet to act on WASPI compensation while MPs have secured £3million to right errors with their pensions.
Taxpayers are to be billed for £3million after MPs were shortchanged in their pensions. This follows a legal ruling, known as the McCloud judgment, which found that historical transitional arrangements for public sector workers constituted unlawful age discrimination.
But WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) have been waiting for years to get compensation with the Government yet to act on the issue, despite a recent report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman calling for payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950.
LBC’s Nick Ferrari asked Mr Stride in an interview today (May 7): “How come money can be found for MPs but not the WASPIs?”
Mr Stride said: “There has not been a response to the Ombudsman’s report yet from ourselves on the WASPI situation so I can’t really comment further than to say that.”
The pensions boss’ comments come after a WASPI pensioner from his own constituency told Express.co.uk she was “disgusted” at the lack of Government action.
The LBC presenter then pointed out that WASPI women have been waiting for years for their compensation while the MP’s pension issue was swiftly dealt with.
Mr Stride said in response: “This goe back to, legislation in 1995 started all this off. It’s gone through various different Governments of different colours and different stripes.
“You’re right, in fact the Ombudsman’s report was five years in the making. That’s why I believe that these relatively complex matters should be look at very thoroughly to make sure that we do the right thing, whatever we decide to do.”
Several MPs have backed the WASPI cause with some of the politicians calling for payouts of £10,000 or more.
SNP MP Marion Fellows told Express.co.uk previously: “It is a further stain on UK justice. A WASPI woman dies every 13 minutes.
“After all these years a £10,000 payment is what these women deserve. I have met with them and I have demonstrated with them. Now I want to see immediate action from the Government.”
A debate is to take place later this month in Parliament to discuss the question of providing compensation for the WASPI pensioners.
SNP MP Patricia Gibson said when presenting the motion for the debate: “We cannot allow it to be the case that WASPI women have won the battle but don’t get the spoils of war.
“There’ll be different views across the house as to what that compensation might look like, and that’s all part of the debate.
“But I think the principle for compensation has to be established, and it has to be established quickly, because the longer this report goes unanswered, the more despair is setting in.
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