Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones (pictured) and
other members of the All-Party
Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women have pledged
to carry on fighting for women affected by the increase in their state pension
age after a High Court ruling.
Yesterday (Thursday) the High Court rejected
claims that increasing the state pension age for women born in
the 1950s discriminated against them on the grounds of age and sex,
and that the government had failed to appropriately notify those affected.
However, Labour MP Carolyn
Harris and former Conservative Government Minister Tim Loughton, co-chairs of
the All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women, said
the All Party Group would continue to use all means available – including private
members’ bills – “to seek justice for all the women affected”.
In a written statement the
politicians said the cross-party group’s continued aim was to deliver on a series of measures proposed
in April 2018.
The measures include:
- making a non-means-tested
pension credit available to all women aged 63 and over from the day it is
approved until they reach state pension age, which won’t be backdated.
- equalising women’s pensions,
so that everyone receives a full state pension (£159 per week) regardless of
the number of years of National Insurance contributions accrued.
- extending pension credit for
those worst affected who have no other income or private pension available to
them and are suffering financial hardship.
Plans to increase the state
pension age were first announced in the Pension Act 1995 but these changes were
accelerated as part of the Pension Act 2011.
Susan Elan Jones MP said: “Pension fairness matters
hugely for ordinary people from our local area. I’ve worked very closely with
many constituents who’ve been affected by these pension changes. I remain
committed to working in Parliament with other MPs across the political spectrum
who want a fair, common sense solution for women born in the 1950s.”
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