Statement made by , Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
I wish to update the House on the Government's decision in
response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)
investigation into Women's State Pension age communication and
associated issues. On 17 December 2024, my predecessor made an
oral statement and deposited a copy of the Government's detailed
response in the House Library.
In coming to this decision, my Right Honourable Friend gave the
Ombudsman's report full consideration and looked in detail at the
findings, reviewing all the information and advice provided to
her at the time by the DWP.
Since then, as part of the legal proceedings challenging the
Government decision, evidence has been cited about research
findings from a 2007 report. This was a DWP evaluation of the
effectiveness of Automatic Pension Forecast letters. I am
depositing a copy of this report in the Libraries of the House.
Had this report been provided to my Right Honourable Friend, she
would of course have considered it alongside all other relevant
evidence and material.
In light of this - and in the interests of fairness and
transparency - I have concluded that the Government should
consider this evidence now. This means we will retake the
decision made last December as it relates to the communications
on State Pension Age.
As the House will be aware the decision announced last December
has been the subject of Court action in recent months and we have
today informed the Court of the action we now intend to take.
We will approach this following proper process and in a
transparent and fair manner. However, retaking this decision
should not be taken as an indication that Government will
necessarily decide that it should award financial redress.
The work will begin immediately, and we will update the House on
the decision as a conclusion is reached.
