Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment has she made of the potential merits of (a) lowering the state pension age and (b) increasing state pension payments in line with rises in the cost of living.

Work is underway on the second Government Review of State Pension age which, under the Pensions Act 2014, must be published by May 2023. This Review will consider a wide range of evidence, including findings from two independent reports, to assess whether the rules about State Pension age remain appropriate.

The Government has committed to implementing the Triple Lock in the usual way for 2023/24 and the remainder of the Parliament.