The SNP has called on the UK government to immediately revisit the state pension inequalities for women born in the 1950s as a petition from the Women Against State Pensions Inequality (WASPI) is debated in the House of Commons.
Mhairi Black MP led a backbench business debate on the issue at the beginning of January and the SNP’s motion, that called on the UK government to introduce transitional measures, received cross-party support.
The WASPI Campaign’s petition, which calls fair transitional state pension arrangements for women born in the 1950s, has attracted more than 140,000 signatures.
Mhairi Black MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, who sits on the Work and Pensions Select Committee, said: “The dedication and commitment of those involved in the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign is second to none and I am pleased that we have another opportunity to shed some light on the gross unfairness that successive governments have allowed to fall on these women.
“Despite cross-party support in the House of Commons for fair transitional arrangements for the women who has been so badly let down by pension reforms, the UK government has so far refused to act.
“Pensions are not a benefit, they are a contract – the UK government has broken that contract and it is vital that action is taken now to revisit the inequalities felt by women born in the 1950s immediately.”