As a member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, I have been following this issue closely. Following a successful petition, a debate in Parliament was held on this issue, in which I was able to speak. During my contribution, I reiterated that the equalisation of the State Pension Age is unavoidable because increasing life expectancy does make our pension system unaffordable. The current inequality is also contrary to European equality legislation and a number of EU member states have made these changes faster than Britain. The scope to make transitional payments to those women affected is also limited due to the continued deficit in the Government's finances. I only wish that that previous Governments, of all colours, addressed this issue properly in the first place.
However, I did also raise my concerns about the changes. Despite assurances from the Government to the contrary, I still have my doubts that those affected received sufficient notification as a result of discussions with women affected by the changes. I do think this is part of a wider issue that as a society we do suffer from a lack of awareness and education about personal finance and I have called on the Government to address this.
More importantly, I spoke of my support for the most vulnerable of those affected to receive transitional support and I will be lobbying the Government to make this the case.
You can read the full text of debate here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm160201/halltext/160201h0001.htm
Please know that Labour did nothing in the last 13 years of their Government to address this issue, and the recent Oppostion Day Debate vote will have no change on Government policy.