Oral Answers to Questions

Margaret Ferrier Excerpts

Thursday 21st July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

2. What assessment the Government have made of the effect of the single-tier state pension on gender equality.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

3. What assessment the Government have made of the effect of the single-tier state pension on gender equality.

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

10. What assessment the Government have made of the effect of the single-tier state pension on gender equality.

--- Later in debate ---

[Caroline Nokes]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his welcome.

Some £1.1 billion was committed at the time of the Pensions Act 2011 to reduce the maximum delay that anyone would experience in claiming their state pension. As a result of the Government’s triple lock, since April 2011 the basic state pension has risen by £570 a year. The Government’s position on this policy is very clear.

[Margaret Ferrier]

The current review of the state pension age by John Cridland is critical to ensuring that the existing inequalities in the current pension system do not plague future retirees. Does the Minister agree that discrepancies in life expectancy, including among some of the poorest women in society and across the UK regions, must be closely examined to prevent gender inequalities?

[Caroline Nokes]

I absolutely agree that it is important to prevent gender inequalities, but equally we have to be realistic and acknowledge that, across the country, people are living longer. If we want to carry on with a sustainable and affordable pension system we must equalise the state pension age for both men and women.

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[Justine Greening]

The festival sounds like a great initiative. I should be delighted if my hon. Friend would send me some details, and I will see if I can possibly come along to it.

The good news is that there were 13,000 more entries by girls to maths and science A-levels in 2015 than there were in 2010. However, we need to do more to challenge the perceptions about engineers, and about STEM careers, that too often put girls off studying those subjects.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

T4. A number of organisations have conveyed disappointment at the Government’s response to the findings of the transgender inquiry conducted by the Women and Equalities Committee. Stonewall has questioned the Government’s insistence on further evidence, believing that they have sufficient evidence to take proper action. Does the Minister accept the assessment that this has been a lost opportunity to ensure that all trans and non-binary people are clearly protected in law, and will she commit herself to working with them and others to achieve true equality for all trans people?

[Caroline Dinenage]

Again, I rebut the allegations that this has been a missed opportunity, given that we have taken on board so many of the Committee’s recommendations. The inquiry was a ground-breaking piece of work which has encouraged at least 12 Government organisations to look again at what they do, and to make some very strong and firm commitments to the transgender population to demonstrate that we support them and are paying attention to their needs.