MPs have voted in favour of bringing in a bill that would require the government to address the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) report on women’s historic state pension changes.

The bill, which has had its first reading, was presented by SNP MP for Aberdeen South, Stephen Flynn, and called on the government to publish proposals for a compensation scheme for 1950s-born women who have been affected by the increase in state pension age and its communication.

At the presentation of the bill, 105 MPs from several parties, including the Liberal Democrats, SNP, and Plaid Cymru, voted in favour of bringing the bill to parliament, while zero voted against.

“For those of us who have stood alongside the Waspi women for many years, for those of us who have pledged to support the Waspi women for many years, for those of us who promised to take action if we were ever to gain government office, it is important that that trust is repaid, and my bill seeks to do that,” Flynn stated.

The issue stems from state pension age changes that the PHSO’s report found were not communicated effectively.

In its report, the PHSO urged the government to identify a mechanism for providing an appropriate remedy for those affected.

However, while the government accepted there was maladministration in relation to how it communicated changes to women's state pension ages, it rejected the PHSO’s proposed remedy and confirmed that no financial compensation would be paid.

The newly presented bill seeks to require the government to address the findings in the ombudsman’s report and outline proposals for a compensation scheme.

“This is a defining issue,” Flynn said. “Defining issues of the last parliament can still be defining issues of this parliament, but only if the government acts to provide the compensation and redress that these women so badly deserve.”

The second reading of the bill is scheduled for 7 March.

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