Ministers have still not met the author of the damning report into Waspi state pensions, six weeks after it was published, it has emerged.
A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service ombudsman in March found that the Department for Work and Pensions was guilty of maladministration by failing to inform women born in the 1950s that the state pension age would be raised from 60 to 65 and later 66.
But a written answer by pensions minister Paul Maynard on Wednesday revealed that the Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has not met ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath to discuss the report since its publication on 21 March.
Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaigners have called on the government to commit to compensation for their financial losses due to the changes.
But the Waspi campaign has also not been able to meet ministers since the report’s publication despite requests to do so, i understands.
The ombudsman’s report had made a “finding of failings by DWP” and had ruled that “the women affected are owed compensation”.
In a parliamentary written answer to the Labour MP Stephen Morgan, Mr Maynard said: “The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has not met with the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman since the report into Women’s State Pension age was published on 21 March 2024.”
Angela Madden, chair of the Waspi campaign, said: “Dozens of Conservative MPs have met with Waspi in recent weeks to relay their support for the campaign.
“Many have also been engaging directly with ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions, supporting our calls for fair and fast compensation.
“Waspi is determined to develop a solution that works for both affected women and the taxpayer. This will be best achieved with a face-to-face meeting with the minister and his officials – there is no time to lose with one Waspi woman dying every 13 minutes.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State is considering the Ombudsman’s report and will respond in due course. We have cooperated fully throughout this investigation and provided thousands of pages of evidence for the review.
“The Government has always been committed to supporting all pensioners in a sustainable way that gives them a dignified retirement, whilst also being fair to them and taxpayers.”
