Agenda item

This Council calls on the Government to urgently undertake a review of the State Pension Laws 1995 and 2011 and how they impact on woman in Leeds born in the 1950s, who have found the goalposts moved in terms of when they receive their state pension.

Further, that this Council supports the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign group, which campaigns for justice for all women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the State Pension Law (1995/2011 Acts).

The 1995 Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA (State Pension Age) to 65, the same as men’s. WASPI agrees with equalisation, but does not agree with the unfair way the changes are being implemented – with little or no personal notice (1995/2011 Pension Acts), faster than promised (2011 Pension Act), and no time to make alternative plans.

Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences.

WASPI is seeking to achieve fair state pension transitional arrangements for those women born in the 1950s, affected by those two pieces of legislation, who have already reached what would have been their state pension age.

This Council supports those aims and calls on the Government to act on legislation which has negatively affected often low paid women, who were relying on their state pension in retirement.

It was moved by Councillor Field, seconded by Councillor Campbell that this Council calls on the Government to urgently undertake a review of the State Pension Laws 1995 and 2011 and how they impact on woman in Leeds born in the 1950s, who have found the goalposts moved in terms of when they receive their state pension.

Further, that this Council supports the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign group, which campaigns for justice for all women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the State Pension Law (1995/2011 Acts).

The 1995 Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA (State Pension Age) to 65, the same as men’s. WASPI agrees with equalisation, but does not agree with the unfair way the changes are being implemented – with little or no personal notice (1995/2011 Pension Acts), faster than promised (2011 Pension Act), and no time to make alternative plans.

Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences.

WASPI is seeking to achieve fair state pension transitional arrangements for those women born in the 1950s, affected by those two pieces of legislation, who have already reached what would have been their state pension age.

This Council supports those aims and calls on the Government to act on legislation which has negatively affected often low paid women, who were relying on their state pension in retirement.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Coupar, seconded by Councillor Heselwood, 

Delete all after “alternative plans” and replace with:

“Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment.

Women born in this decade are suffering financially. These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60. It is not the pension age itself that is in dispute - it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time.

The issue is that the rise in the women's state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving women with no time to make alternative arrangements.

This council notes the Executive Member for Communities raised this at Full Council on 14^th September 2016, condemns the way the conservative government has implemented these changes, calls on the government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born on or after 6th April 1951 so women do not live in hardship, and introduce legislation so accrued rights to the basic state pension cannot be changed in the future. “

Amended motion will read:

“This Council calls on the Government to urgently undertake a review of the State Pension Laws 1995 and 2011 and how they impact on women in Leeds born in the 1950s, who have found the goalposts moved in terms of when they receive their state pension.

Further, that this Council supports the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign group, which campaigns for justice for all women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the State Pension Law (1995/2011 Acts).

The 1995 Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA (State Pension Age) to 65, the same as men’s. WASPI agrees with equalisation, but does not agree with the unfair way the changes are being implemented – with little or no personal notice (1995/2011 Pension Acts), faster than promised (2011 Pension Act), and no time to make alternative plans.

Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment.

Women born in this decade are suffering financially. These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60. It is not the pension age itself that is in dispute - it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time.

The issue is that the rise in the women's state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving women with no time to make alternative arrangements.

This council notes the Executive Member for Communities raised this at Full Council on 14^th September 2016, condemns the way the conservative government has implemented these changes, calls on the government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born on or after 6th April 1951 so women do not live in hardship, and introduce legislation so accrued rights to the basic state pension cannot be changed in the future. “

A second amendment was moved by Councillor P Latty, seconded by Councillor Robinson

Delete all after paragraph 1 and replace with:

‘This Council supports Government moves to equalise pension ages between men and women and notes measures already put in place to mitigate the impact of some of the changes worth over £1bn. However, Council acknowledges the WASPI campaign to introduce transition arrangements for women born in the 1950’s and supports a further review to respond to these concerns.’

Amended Motion will read:

‘This Council calls on the Government to urgently undertake a review of the State Pension Laws 1995 and 2011 and how they impact on woman in Leeds born in the 1950s, who have found the goalposts moved in terms of when they receive their state pension.

This Council supports Government moves to equalise pension ages between men and women and notes measures already put in place to mitigate the impact of some of the changes worth over £1bn. However, Council acknowledges the WASPI campaign to introduce transition arrangements for women born in the 1950’s and supports a further review to respond to these concerns.’

The amendment in the name of Councillor P Latty was declared lost.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Coupar was carried and upon being put to the vote as the substantive motion it was

RESOLVED – That this Council calls on the Government to urgently undertake a review of the State Pension Laws 1995 and 2011 and how they impact on women in Leeds born in the 1950s, who have found the goalposts moved in terms of when they receive their state pension.

Further, that this Council supports the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign group, which campaigns for justice for all women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the State Pension Law (1995/2011 Acts).

The 1995 Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA (State Pension Age) to 65, the same as men’s. WASPI agrees with equalisation, but does not agree with the unfair way the changes are being implemented – with little or no personal notice (1995/2011 Pension Acts), faster than promised (2011 Pension Act), and no time to make alternative plans.

Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment.

Women born in this decade are suffering financially. These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60. It is not the pension age itself that is in dispute - it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time.

The issue is that the rise in the women's state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving women with no time to make alternative arrangements.

This council notes the Executive Member for Communities raised this at Full Council on 14^th September 2016, condemns the way the conservative government has implemented these changes, calls on the government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born on or after 6th April 1951 so women do not live in hardship, and introduce legislation so accrued rights to the basic state pension cannot be changed in the future.