Women's State Pension Age

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution – in the Senedd at 2:55 pm on 22 September 2021.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 2:55, 22 September 2021

Can I just, first of all, in response to that further question—and I'm sure you'd want to join in—actually praise the work of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign and those women who have so assiduously campaigned against what is a very, very gross injustice? And I'm sure there's probably not a single Member of this Senedd who does not know a large number of people who've been affected by this injustice. 

The findings from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report were published in July, and they've highlighted the concerns that have been expressed by the Member and, I think, by many other Senedd Members and, I believe, across parties. What I can say is that this is nothing new to Welsh Government. Welsh Government Ministers in this devolved area have been making representations since 2016 on the issue of the injustice and the need for that to be resolved—Lesley Griffiths wrote on 23 February 2016; Julie James wrote in February 2018. There were further letters on 16 May 2019, 21 June 2019, 23 November 2020 and 12 February 2021. So, I think we are all watching very closely to see what the outcome will be of the further investigations that are taking place by the ombudsman, and if there is a confirmation that there has been an injustice, then that injustice must be remedied. And that will be the position of the Welsh Government: to actually support all the women within Wales to ensure that justice is delivered by the UK Government in the area that's within their responsibility and obligation.