Prime Minister Theresa May has refused to budge on the government’s stance on Waspi women, adding that the government has already put extra money in following the increase in women’s state pension age.

Responding in Prime Ministers Questions yesterday, 20 March, May said that the government had been “very clear” on the pension age changes, and argued that those with the most significant changes received “at least seven years’ notice”.

The issue relates to the 3.8 million women affected by the proposed increase of the state pension age from 60 to 66 and the way it was communicated to those affected.

May was responding to a question a question from Labour MP for Nottingham North, Alex Norris, who said: “There were 4,621 words in the Chancellor’s spring statement, but not a single mention of Waspi women. The Prime Minister came into office vowing to tackle burning injustices.

“Those women worked all their lives for their pension but had it taken from them without their knowledge. Does the Prime Minister really not think that that is a burning injustice?”

In response, May said: “The hon. Gentleman knows full well that, in relation to the Waspi women, this government did put extra money in. We have been very clear that no one will see their pension age change by more than 18 months relative to the Pensions Act 1995 timetable, and those with the most significant changes did receive at least seven years’ notice.

“We do want to see the empowerment of women in the workplace and in our economy, and that is why my right hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities will be bringing forward a strategy on that very soon.”

In June, there will be a 2-day substantive hearing to review whether women born in the 1950s were sufficiently communicated with about changes to the state pension age, brought forward by the BackTo60 campaign.

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