@prefix rdf: . @prefix xsd: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix skos: . @prefix rdfs: . @prefix api: . @prefix parl: . rdfs:label "Biography information for Debbie Abrahams" . parl:answerText "

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues including the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of issues.

The Government will not be revisiting the State Pension age arrangements for women affected by the Pensions Act 1995 and Pensions Act 2011. These women will receive their State Pension either at the same age as men or earlier as we remove the current inequality.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-07-03"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-07-03T13:35:01.76Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

The Government is committed to increase the basic State Pension up to the full amount of the new State Pension by the Triple Lock for the duration of this Parliament. The Triple Lock ensures that the highest of the growth in wages, prices (CPI) and 2.5% is applied. A decision on the rate to be used is taken annually following the publication of price inflation and earnings growth rate statistics in October.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-10-09"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-10-09T12:40:37.713Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

There are no current plans to meet with representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign in the immediate future.

This matter has been comprehensively debated on many occasions in Parliament, most recently in a Westminster Hall Debate on 5th July 2017 in which I stated I will be meeting the all-party parliamentary group when it is reformed.

In addition to the substantive debate on this issue, previous Ministers have met with WASPI representatives to discuss the effect of the 1995 and 2011 changes to women’s State Pension age. Baroness Ros Altmann and Shailesh Vara MP met with representatives of the WASPI group on 29th June 2016 to listen to their concerns.

This issue was also raised in a meeting on 23 November 2016 between the former Secretary of State Damian Green, the then Minister for Pensions Richard Harrington MP and representatives from the relevant All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

Following these meetings and debates, the government maintains the view that the 1995 and 2011 changes to State Pension age were necessary. We remain very clear that we will make no further changes to the State Pension age or pay financial redress in lieu of pension. Therefore the government believes that there is no value for either party in future meetings with representatives from the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign.

A key priority for Government remains supporting individuals aged 50 years and over to return to and remain in the labour market, and tackling the barriers to them doing so. Since 2016 much work has been done to provide support back into employment, with 1.2 million over 65’s now in employment. In addition there is training and retraining, in many ways, as well as investment in lifelong learning and returnship schemes. We have also extended our network of older claimant champions to all 34 Jobcentre Plus districts to provide best practice and support to work coaches.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-07-12"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-07-12T09:20:29.693Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "State Retirement Pensions: Females" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of women in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry local authority area, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England who will be affected by changes to the state pension age for women born in the 1950s." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Coventry North East" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Colleen Fletcher" ; parl:uin "1557" ; dcterms:date "2017-06-28"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

Our Green Paper: Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Schemes looked at a number of potential measures to further protect DB schemes – including introducing a system for compulsory clearance by the Regulator for certain corporate transactions and a requirement for employers to consult with trustees before paying dividends where the scheme is underfunded.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish a White Paper in winter. Any future changes to legislation need to be considered carefully against the need to ensure appropriate protections for members, the impact on business and the wider economy.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-10-09"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:groupedQuestionUIN "105226" ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-10-09T17:02:25.23Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "State Retirement Pensions: Females" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) on which dates and (b) by which means his Department has taken steps to raise awareness by way of publicity about changes to the UK state pension age for women born in the 1950s." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Glasgow East" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "David Linden" ; parl:uin "107" ; dcterms:date "2017-06-21"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "State Retirement Pensions: Uprating" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has plans to raise the basic state pension in 2018 by September 2017's CPI inflation figure of 2.9 per cent." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Oldham East and Saddleworth" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Debbie Abrahams" ; parl:uin "105086" ; dcterms:date "2017-09-14"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Colleen Fletcher" . parl:answerText "

DWP recognises the difficulties multi employer schemes such as the Plumbers have with the current Employer Debt legislation. The recent Green Paper “Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit pension schemes” explores these issues and during the consultation period officials have engaged with a range of stakeholders to explore potential legislative changes which could help multi employer schemes. We plan to respond on this issue in a White Paper later this winter.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-09-14"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-09-14T14:02:04.507Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Kirstene Hair" . parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" . skos:prefLabel "House of Commons" . parl:answerText "

Women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1953 were affected by State Pension age equalisation under the Pensions Act 1995.

The Pensions Act 2011 accelerated the equalisation of State Pension age, and included transitional arrangements limiting State Pension age delays, affecting women born between 6 April 1953 and 5 December 1953. It also brought forward the increase in State Pension age from 65 to 66 which affected women born between 6 December 1953 and 5 April 1960.

Information on the numbers affected by constituent country, parliamentary constituency or local authority is not held by the Department for Work and Pensions. However, the most recent population breakdowns for England and its parliamentary constituencies by age can be found here:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/parliamentaryconstituencymidyearpopulationestimates

Population breakdowns by local authority, region and country can be found here:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland

The House of Commons library have produced a paper estimating the number of women affected by the Pensions Act 2011 (those born between 6 April 1953 and 5 December 1953 April 1960) by constituency, which can be found here:

http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7405/CBP-07405constituencyestimates.xlsx

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-07-03"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection true ; parl:previousAnswerVersion ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-07-03T14:01:01Z"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected "2017-07-05T08:38:48.75Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "State Retirement Pensions: Females" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to meet representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign to discuss the effect of 1995 and 2011 changes to women's state pension age." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Newcastle upon Tyne North" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Catherine McKinnell" ; parl:uin "1141" ; dcterms:date "2017-06-26"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "Companies: Mergers and Takeovers" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require companies with a deficit on their defined benefit pension scheme to seek the approval of the Pensions Regulator before agreeing to any merger or takeover." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Luton North" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Kelvin Hopkins" ; parl:uin "105228" ; dcterms:date "2017-09-14"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for David Linden" . rdfs:label "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell" . rdfs:label "Biography information for Kelvin Hopkins" . parl:answerText "

The data requested is not held, however the number of older workers in the UK is at a record high, currently standing at 9.9m workers aged 50 years and over. 4.2m women aged 50-64 are in employment; this compares to 3.5m five years ago. There are 1.2 million individuals in employment aged over 65, of which 39% are women.

Employment rates for older workers have also been increasing and recently reached record highs. Since ten years ago, the employment rate has increased by 6.2 percentage points (pp) (from 64.9% to 71.1%) for people aged 50-64. The current employment rate for women aged 50-64 is at a record high of 66.8%.

Further information on estimates of employment, unemployment, economic inactivity and other employment-related statistics for the UK can be found in the “UK labour market: September 2017” statistical bulletin published at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/september2017

The Government is committed to supporting people aged 50 years and over to remain in and return to work; the ‘Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach’ strategy was published on 2nd February. This, crucially, is led by employers, but it also sets out the case for action by individuals, and the role of Government in supporting them in planning their careers and their approach to retirement. The Strategy and supporting evidence base are available at the attached web address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach

Analysis on the headline measures that the government uses to monitor progress on Fuller Working Lives can be found in this statistical release:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/economic-labour-market-status-of-individuals-aged-50-and-over-trends-over-time-september-2017

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-10-09"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-10-09T16:55:57.637Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Emma Hardy" . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "Workplace Pensions: Plumbing" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to prevent financial disbenefit for plumbers affected by section 75 of the Pensions Act 1995; and if he will make a statement." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Angus" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Kirstene Hair" ; parl:uin "10024" ; dcterms:date "2017-09-12"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Stephanie Peacock" . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "State Retirement Pensions: Females" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on implementing pension transitional protection arrangements for women born in the 1950s." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Coventry North East" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Colleen Fletcher" ; parl:uin "1678" ; dcterms:date "2017-06-28"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "State Retirement Pensions: Barnsley" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women in Barnsley born in the 1950s and affected by the change in state pension age have returned to employment from a position of unemployment." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Barnsley East" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Stephanie Peacock" ; parl:uin "105266" ; dcterms:date "2017-09-14"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

Between April 2009 and March 2011, the Department mailed women born between 6th April 1950 and 5th April 1953, informing them of their State Pension age under the 1995 Pensions Act. This involved sending 1.16 million letters to the affected women.

Following the 2011 changes, DWP wrote to individuals directly affected to inform them of the change to their State Pension age. This applied to women born between 6th April 1953 and 5th April 1960. These letters were sent between January 2012 and November 2013. This involved sending 5.77 million letters to the affected men and women.

In addition to writing directly to those affected, the Government provided a range of information in order for all individuals to be able to find out their State Pension age and conditions of their benefits. For example, following the Pensions Act 1995, State Pension estimates, issued to individuals on request, made the changes clear. Since 2000, the Department has issued 14 million State Pension estimates on request. Between 2003 and 2006, the Department issued about 16 million automatic pension forecasts, which were accompanied by a leaflet about State Pension age including equalisation. DWP also ran a pensions education campaign in 2004, which included informing people of the future equalisation of State Pension.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-06-28"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-06-28T16:22:51.667Z"^^xsd:dateTime . rdfs:label "Biography information for Guy Opperman" . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "Companies: Finance" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will introduce legislative proposals to prohibit companies with a deficit on their defined benefit pension scheme from paying any dividends without the prior approval of the Pensions Regulators." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Luton North" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Kelvin Hopkins" ; parl:uin "105226" ; dcterms:date "2017-09-14"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answer ; parl:answeringDeptId "29" ; parl:answeringDeptPrinted "Department for Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptShortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:answeringDeptSortName "Work and Pensions" ; parl:hansardHeading "State Retirement Pensions: Females" ; parl:houseId "1" ; parl:legislature ; parl:questionText "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will meet the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle and a delegation from WASPI Hull to discuss changes to the state pension age for women born in the 1950s." ; parl:registeredInterest false ; parl:tablingMember ; parl:tablingMemberConstituency "Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle" ; parl:tablingMemberPrinted "Emma Hardy" ; parl:uin "10098" ; dcterms:date "2017-09-12"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

Our Green Paper: Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Schemes looked at a number of potential measures to further protect DB schemes – including introducing a system for compulsory clearance by the Regulator for certain corporate transactions and a requirement for employers to consult with trustees before paying dividends where the scheme is underfunded.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish a White Paper in winter. Any future changes to legislation need to be considered carefully against the need to ensure appropriate protections for members, the impact on business and the wider economy.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-10-09"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:groupedQuestionUIN "105228" ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-10-09T17:02:25.183Z"^^xsd:dateTime . parl:answerText "

There are no current plans to meet with representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign in the immediate future.

This matter has been comprehensively debated on many occasions in Parliament, most recently in a Westminster Hall Debate on 5th July 2017 in which I stated I will be meeting the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) when it is reformed.

" ; parl:answeringMember ; parl:answeringMemberConstituency "Hexham" ; parl:answeringMemberPrinted "Guy Opperman" ; parl:dateOfAnswer "2017-09-14"^^xsd:dateTime ; parl:isMinisterialCorrection false ; parl:questionFirstAnswered "2017-09-14T14:03:38.647Z"^^xsd:dateTime . a api:Page ; "10"^^xsd:long ; "1"^^xsd:long ; "73"^^xsd:long ; dcterms:isPartOf ; api:definition ; api:extendedMetadataVersion ; api:items ( ) ; api:page "0"^^xsd:long ; ; . a api:ListEndpoint ; dcterms:hasPart ; api:definition .