Transitional State Pension Arrangements for Women

Khalid Mahmood Excerpts

Wednesday 24th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab)]

The six points that my hon. Friend has just raised would be helpful to the 3,450 women in my constituency—

[Nadine Dorries]

All six of them?

[Mr Mahmood]

All six points, yes. They would be important for the woman who wrote to me this morning to say that she never received the letter and she only found out what was going on through her workplace pension. Unfortunately, she is now unemployed and has been for 20 months. She is trying hard to get a job, but she is extremely worried about how much longer she will have to work to make up for the lost contributions. She is in a very difficult position and has no guidance from anybody. Why do the Government not help her?

[Owen Smith]

My hon. Friend speaks with passion and knowledge about the 4,000-odd women in his constituency who are affected. There are thousands of women in a similar position in all our constituencies, and my hon. Friend’s point is clear: one of the transitional measures must be put in place.