House of Commons – Jan. 22, 2026

The Rt Hon. Pat McFadden MP Secretary of State for Work and Pensions By email only

22nd January 2026

Dear Secretary of State,

Re: Compensating women affected by the Government’s communication of State Pension age changes.

We are writing following the out-of-court settlement reached between WASPI and the Government on 2 December 2025, and your commitment to undertake a full review of all the evidence relating to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)’s investigation within 12 weeks.

We welcome your acceptance that the Government’s initial decision not to compensate 1950s-born women was flawed, and the new opportunity which has arisen to reconsider the case for compensation and restore public confidence in the independent bodies that exist to hold the executive to account.

Women born in the 1950s have suffered a clear injustice, as detailed in the PHSO’s thorough and comprehensive report which took six years to produce. The investigation concluded those affected were denied the opportunity to make alternative arrangements for their retirement and still suffer the consequences today.

As you know, the PHSO found maladministration in the way the DWP failed to act on its own research which showed that significant numbers of 1950s-born women did not know about forthcoming increases to their State Pension age. The DWP has yet to explain why this occurred.

The Government was right to carefully reconsider its position on the Winter Fuel Payment, Personal Independence Payments, and most recently, inheritance tax relief on agricultural properties. We hope the coming weeks will allow you to reach the right decision for 1950s-born women.

We urge you to update the House on your plans to ensure that women born in the 1950s are finally treated fairly and properly compensated at your earliest convenience, or by 2nd March 2026 at the latest.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Darling Member of Parliament for Torbay