Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Julie Elliott and Shailesh Vara

Monday 9th May 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

The Secretary of State made it absolutely clear earlier in these questions that he has no intention of revisiting this issue.

[Julie Elliott]

Why has the Minister not used the opportunity of a majority Conservative Government to put right the wrongs of the last Government, which have had an impact on some 4,290 women in my constituency, by introducing proper transitional arrangements—or is this just compassionate Conservatism in action?

[Mr Vara]

During the debates in 2011, the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the then Pensions Minister said on Second Reading of the Pensions Bill that they would go away, consider and reflect, and they did precisely that: on Report, they made a concession worth £1.1 billion and reduced the timeframe from two years to 18 months. Transitional arrangements were put in place, and at a substantial and significant cost, notwithstanding the very tough economic climate at the time.