Women Affected by State Pension Age Changes: Cost of Living

5. What steps his Department is taking to help support women in Northern Ireland affected by changes to the state pension age with rises in the cost of living.

It is a busy day again, Mr Speaker. Social security and state pensions are transferred matters in Northern Ireland and are therefore the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. We have taken decisive action to help UK households tackle increases in the cost of living. Women across Northern Ireland are benefiting from energy bill support and support for the most vulnerable, including an additional £900 cost of living payment in 2023-24 for households on means-tested benefits.

WASPI women in Northern Ireland, like those in Newport West and the rest of the UK, want to see fairness and equality once and for all. What specific discussions has the Minister had with the Northern Ireland civil service and the political parties in Northern Ireland about the rising cost of living and its impact on WASPI women in Northern Ireland?

As I have said, this is a transferred matter under the devolution settlement. We all know that this has been a very sensitive matter—that has certainly been the case throughout my time in Parliament—and I have met many of my constituents who are concerned about it. However, if any Opposition Members think that the issue of pensions is going to go away in our lifetime, I encourage them to look at the Office for Budget Responsibility’s fiscal sustainability report and at other reports from the Government Actuary’s Department.