'BACK in 1995, the Conservative Government’s Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA (State Pension Age) to 65, the same as men’s. Most folk accepted the need for equalisation, but the way in which the changes were implemented – with little/no personal notice (1995/2011 Pension Acts), faster than promised (2011 Pension Act), and no time to make alternative plans - has been very badly handled. Many woman have had their retirement plans shattered with devastating consequences

You might have heard about the WASPI campaign - Women Against State Pension Inequality - which has been campaigning hard to convince the UK Government to introduce transitional arrangements for those women affected, many of whom were not notified about the changes, and took early retirement, leaving them without any income.

We started the campaign with just five ordinary women who in 2015 got together and decided to fight this injustice.

Basically they are looking for a 'bridging' pension to cover the gap from age 60 until State Pension Age - not means-tested and with compensation for losses for those women who have already reached their SPA. There are no specific age groups within the period mentioned above that are favoured above others.

They are not asking for the pension age to revert back to age 60, this would be a one-off cost to the UK Government to right a wrong of their own making.

?The SNP has thrown down the gauntlet to the UK Government, offering a “way out” of the controversy over the accelerated timetable for increases in women’s state pension age.

My colleagues down in Westminster have established an estimate for the cost of reversing the policy at £8billion over five years.

Many women claim they were never told of the changes, or only informed of them recently, and some will now receive their state pension later than expected.

In June, Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) protesters staged a demonstration outside the Westminster Parliament on behalf of the 2.6 million affected.

The SNP’s proposal would restore the slower timetable set out in the 1995 Pensions Act.

This would mean women’s SPA rising from 63 in March of this year to 65 by 2020, with no further increase to 66 until the mid-2020s.

Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford has pointed out that there is a “healthy surplus” in the National Insurance fund, so it came down to a “political choice” to reverse the 2011 changes.

The UK Department for Work and Pensions is refusing to take up the campaign's proposals but this issue is not going away. The campaigners are resolute and determined and I am pleased to say that my party is standing full square behind them. Anyone locally who might have been affected by the changes should be aware that there is an active West Fife WASPI group who will give them support and information and who would welcome all new campaigners with open arms.'