New update for WASPI women waiting for progress on compensation for changes to State Pension age

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An open letter to Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt MP, demanding a debate and vote in Parliament on compensation for Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, has been signed by more than 156,000 people in just 10 days.After a six-year investigation, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) concluded on March 21 that women born in the 1950s, affected by short notice changes to their State Pension age, should be compensated.On March 25, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride MP made a statement to the House of Commons regarding the PHSO’s final report, but would not commit to a timetable for addressing compensation, despite repeated calls by MPs from all parties to do so.

During his statement, Mr Stride pointed out that the 100-page report was “complex” and said several times that the UK Government “will look at these matters extremely carefully” adding that time was needed to digest the report’s findings.

Parliament is now on Easter recess until April 15.Commenting on the thousands of people who have signed the petition in support of the open letter, WASPI Chair, Angela Madden said: “It is unacceptable for the government to treat the Ombudsman’s report as if it were War and Peace or some very complicated and controversial plan to change the ‘offside rule’.”Ms Madden added that the PHSO’s report contains three straightforward conclusions: “The DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) failed us very badly; WASPI women should be compensated; Parliament should intervene to set up a scheme.”The campaigner continued: “Without proper time being made available in the Commons for a debate and vote on compensation, MPs essentially have their hands tied behind their backs on this.“We’re looking