State Pension of Women Born in the 1950s

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery – in the Senedd at 2:53 pm on 21 January 2025.

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Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 2:53, 21 January 2025

I ought to say, Llywydd, that I should declare an interest as I am one of the women in question. I was born in the 1950s and my pension age was delayed very considerably. So, I ought to say that I'm in the same category. I am, however, very fortunate to be still working and not so dependent on a pension. I have two very, very good friends who have died without having a resolution to this, both of whom suffered very much from the change in the pension age that they were not able to plan for because of the way in which it was communicated. 

It's a really serious, complicated issue, and we know that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has responded in full to the ombudsman's report. The ombudsman only investigated how the state pension age change was communicated; they didn't investigate the policy itself. That was agreed by Parliament back in 1995 and was considered lawful by the court at the time. So, this is about the communication, I think. The UK Government has apologised for the 28-month delay in writing to women and have said that they will learn the lessons on that, and they will ensure that they take forward lessons on future communications as well. So, it's a small step forward.

I think that the Welsh Government would very much like to assist people who are in income deficit as a result of a number of things, and this being one of them. My colleague Jane Hutt has been working very hard in this area. It isn't devolved to Wales. So, with my Counsel General hat on, I can't in all conscience say that the Welsh Government can play a role in that formally because it is just not a devolved issue. It is very much a reserved issue. But, of course, we do work very hard to ensure that people in Wales get justice in a number of areas and we work very hard to make sure that they're supported with the right advice, and we're very happy to help in any campaign that maximises income to people in Wales. So, I guess it's a qualified 'yes'. I mean, my heart absolutely goes out to people caught up in this, many of whom have suffered severe consequences to their lifestyle and ability to survive, really. But, I think, with my Counsel General hat on, I have to say this is reserved and so I can't have a formal role in it. But, I think, Delyth, Jane Hutt and I would be very happy to discuss with you anything that can be taken forward in a campaign sense.

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