All 1 Debates between Liz Kendall and Claire Young

Women’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO Report

Debate between Liz Kendall and Claire Young
Tuesday 17th December 2024

(6 days, 23 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Liz Kendall Portrait Liz Kendall
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We are prepared to take difficult decisions if we think that they are fair and right. That is why we have taken this approach to the issue of how the state pension age increase was communicated between 2004 and 2007. We agree with what the ombudsman says about maladministration, and I have set out our three action points: to make sure we have a clear and detailed action plan to learn all the lessons, to give people sufficient notice in future if their state pension age increases, and to have a detailed programme of communication about the state pension going forward. Those are firm actions to show that we have learned the lessons from this report.

Claire Young Portrait Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)
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I am sure that the 69-year-old who contacted me explaining how she had missed out on being able to care for her dying mother due to needing to work longer would have welcomed a letter giving her enough notice to plan her finances to allow otherwise. What support can the Secretary of State offer WASPI women, who are still disproportionately taking on caring responsibilities?

Liz Kendall Portrait Liz Kendall
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The hon. Lady raises a really important point. As we get older, many of us are working while caring for our elderly loved ones or for children—sometimes both—and those family carers need support. I have already set out the action we have taken, including the biggest ever boost to the earnings threshold for carer’s allowance and a serious, independent review of carers’ overpayments, but we can and should be doing more to support family carers. I am very happy to meet the hon. Lady to talk through her ideas that she thinks would benefit her constituents, if she would like.