Govt promises women’s state pension fix

Pensions minister Steve Webb has promised that the goverment will create a transitional arrangement for women hit hardest by the rise in the state pension age (SPA).

Plans to raise the SPA to 66 by 2020 have angered women, 500,000 of whom will face up to an extra two years before they can claim their pensions.

In June, Webb said Labour should have tabled amendments to fix the problem, claiming any suggestions from coalition ministers would have unfairly dominated the debate.

However, during Work and Pensions Questions yesterday, Webb said coalition ministers will come up with a solution themselves.

Shadow pensions minister Rachel Reeves said: "The government tabled no amendments during committee and recess starts this week.

"What hope is there for a transitional arrangement?"

The Parliamentary recess is due to begin on 19 July and MPs will return on 5 September.

In response Webb said: "We have spent 20 hours debating this issue in committee.

"We were disappointed Labour did not table any new amendments and we will now have to do it ourselves."

Transitional arrangements for women affected most by the SPA rise were first mooted during the second reading of the Pensions Bill.

Webb and work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith agreed at the reading to consider transitional arrangements proposed by the opposition, but the pair made no promise to create solutions themselves.