9. Plaid Cymru Debate: Women against state pension inequality campaign

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:27 pm on 20 March 2019.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 6:27, 20 March 2019

I welcome the opportunity today to bring some consensus about the representations that we can make on behalf of the women in Wales who are so adversely affected by these changes. Many women in this age group will have worked part-time, often in more than one part-time job, in low-paid roles, taking time off work to care for children or elderly relatives. Many have experienced  inequality, as Huw Irranca-Davies said, throughout their lives and were expecting to have some rights in their pensionable times. They've worked, they've paid their national insurance contributions, they've contributed fully to society, but now they find themselves once again being directly disadvantaged as women.

So, we pay tribute today, and this is an important strong voice from this Chamber, to campaigners in our constituencies. I particularly want to pay tribute to Kay Ann Clarke and Theresa Hughes, who I met on the steps of the Senedd today. There are several campaign groups campaigning for justice—Women Against State Pension Inequality, BackTo60, Shoulder to Shoulder, We Paid In You Pay Out—speaking across the land about their campaigns. I think we must pay tribute to the accomplishments of these groups. They've got the message over into the mainstream media, and to politicians. They've formed groups across the country in our constituencies. They've also been instrumental in the formation of the all-party parliamentary group on state pension inequality for women.

As a result of their campaign, women from across the country submitted complaints of maladministration against the Department for Work and Pensions. The High Court has granted permission for a judicial review, due to take place on 5 and 6 June. So, we will continue to monitor developments and raise our concerns with the UK Ministers who are responsible for these matters. I will say, in response to your motion—[Interruption.]