The MP behind a bill to make ministers set out plans for compensation for the WASPI generation of women has accused Government whips of blocking his bill.
Alan Brown was set to present this bill, backed by a cross-party group of MPs, for a second reading in Parliament today (April 19) but decided to postpone it until May 17.
He told Express.co.uk: “The only reason I pushed the date of the second reading back was because I was too far down the order paper to be given any debate time.
“It is hugely frustrating how it works on a private members day, but the Government whips pretty much decide who will get an airing on the day.
“As we have seen in the past, they will filibuster to stop progress of bills. It’s a system that needs overhauled so we can have more debates on bills that the public have an interest in.
“May the 17th has the same risks that I will not get any debate time which is hugely frustrating.”
The frustrated MP pledged to raise his bill “at every opportunity” and he said he hopes to take place in a backbench debate on the question of compensation, which was approved this week.
Mr Brown said he was not surprised the Government was yet to act despite a critical report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman last month, which recommended compensation payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950, and called on ministers to take up the issue.
The SNP politician said: “They have ignored the calls for compensation for years. Indeed, they seem to take the side of the DWP who refuse to admit they were guilty of maladministration as per the findings of the PHSO.
“Where I am angry is that it is unprecedented for the PHSO to have to lay a report before Parliament and call on Parliament to intervene.
“I am also disappointed with the Labour leadership who have refused to say what they think the correct compensation should be or what they would do if they win an election and the matter hasn’t been resolved.
“Indeed, it is ridiculous to say they are “listening” to the WASPI women. We know the position by now – it’s action needed not a pretence at caring.”
His State Pension Age (Compensation) bill sets out a framework for compensation levels determined by the number of additional years each WASPI pensioner had to wait to get their state pension.
This would mean those whose pension age was raised between three and five years would get compensation aligned with Level 5 of the PHSO’s compensation banding, from £3,000 to £9,950.
Individuals who had to wait an extra five or six years would get Level 6 compensation, of £10,000, under the proposed legislation.
Mr Brown’s motion for the bill hit out at the Ombudsman for its slow action on the controversy.
It said: “It is hard to believe that in the almost three years since the maladministration assessment, a solution is still to be recommended by the Ombudsman.
“It is a scandal in itself that the WASPI women had to go to court to confirm the flaws in the second Ombudsman report.”
Are you a WASPI state pensioner affected by this issue? Get in touch and tell us about your experience by emailing nicholas.dawson@reachplc.com
