Question reference: S6W-26524
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 28 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with the UK Government regarding any implications for Scottish social security payments to women in Scotland of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to the state pension age, affecting women born in the 1950s, which states that those affected should receive an apology and compensation.
Answer
The First Minister wrote to the UK Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on 18 April to make the Scottish Government’s position clear, the UK Government must respond in a timely manner to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s recommendations, by committing to a fair compensation package for the women born in the 1950’s affected by the changes to state pension age.
State pensions remain reserved to the UK Government. Should the UK Government decide to accept the recommendations from the PHSO report and pay compensation we will work closely with the UK Government to understand if there are any implications for the payment of Scottish social security benefits.