Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to take steps to provide additional financial support to women born in the 1950s who have been affected by changes in the State Pension age.

The Government decided over 25 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension age the same for men and women. Had the State Pension age not been equalised, women who would be retiring today upon reaching the age of 60, would be expected to spend (on average) over 40% of their adult lives in receipt of State Pension. This decision has been upheld by successive governments.

The Government is committed to delivering a comprehensive package of support to help older workers to remain and return to work.

This includes intensive tailored support for eligible Universal Credit job seekers; 50PLUS Champions in every Jobcentre Plus district across GB; and the delivery of Midlife MOTs in Jobcentres, in three pilot areas over the next 2 years to people in work, and digitally to help people in their 40s, 50s and 60s to review and take stock of their finances, skills and health.