Foster calls for caution over changes to women’s state pension age

MP for Bath, Don Foster has today voiced his concerns over the Government’s plans to equalise the state pension age for men and women quicker than initially planned.

While welcoming the moves to equalise the pension age, Don Foster states that the Government’s decision to accelerate the timetable for doing so from 2024 to 2018 will have an adverse impact on 300,000 women born between December 1953 and October 1954. Many will have to work an additional 18 months while 33,000 will have to work an extra 2 years.

Included in this group of women affected are a number of Bath residents who under current proposals will have less than 15 years preparation time to adjust, as recommended by an independent commission.

Commenting, Don Foster said: “The Coalition has made some really positive pension reforms; however, there is justified concern that the changes to the state pension age are unfair to the women who are being asked to work two years longer at very short notice and without time to plan properly for their retirement.”

“People need time to plan for their retirement and to make a single group of women work for so much longer at just seven years notice would be very unjust.”

“With Lib Dems inside Government I am confident that a solution can be found and we can continue to show that the Lib Dems provide the strongest, most progressive voice for pensioners.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Don Foster has signed EDM 1402 that states:

That this House welcomes the equalisation of the state pension age for men and women, but notes with concern the Government’s proposals to accelerate the timetable for doing so; recognises that 300,000 women born between December 1953 and October 1954 will have to work an additional 18 months or more of which 33,000 will have to work an extra two years; further recognises that these women have less than the 15 years of preparation time recommended by the Turner Commission before the changes take place; and calls on the Government to take these issues into account and revise the timetable in order to maintain the commitment given in the Coalition Agreement.