AN AYRSHIRE MP has hailed the work of Ayrshire's WASPI women - and called on the Department of Work and Pensions to sort out their compensation as soon as possible.

Allan Dorans, the MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, spoke in a debate led by North Ayrshire SNP MP Patricia Gibson in the Commons this week, about the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women, who lost out on tens of thousands of pounds when their retiral aged was moved up from 60 to 66.

SNP member Mr Dorans told the debate: "This has been an important issue for me for a number of years. In fact, it is so important to me that I chose to raise it as a matter of urgency during my maiden speech in this Chamber in 2020, when I highlighted the scandalous situation experienced by these women.

"There were an estimated 3.8 million WASPI women, although 280,000 have died since the start of the campaign, including my constituents Margaret Meikle and Morag Syne.

"Those women died without receiving the compensation, apology or justice that they rightly deserved.

"There are about 6,800 WASPI women in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock. To some people, they are just numbers; to me, every single one of them is an individual, a daughter and possibly a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a sister, an auntie, a carer and a friend.

"They are important. They matter. They have all had their hopes, expectations and aspirations of retiring at 60 with a reasonable pension crushed by a lack of notice of a change to their pension age by the Government.

"Each and every one of them deserved to be treated properly, and the grave injustice they have suffered should be put right by the Government."

Mr Dorans continued: "Since my first contact with a WASPI constituent nine years ago, many have written to me and met me, expressing their frustration, dealing with burnout, caring for elderly relatives and missing out on time with partners, children and grandchildren, all in the context of a cost of living crisis.

"Many have also commented on the lack of pension income and having to use savings to survive.

"How much might it cost to properly compensate the WASPI women? In March, The Times estimated that to pay them the ombudsman’s paltry offer of between £1,000 and £2,850 would cost between £3.5 billion and £10 billion.

"The WASPI campaign is calling for about three times as much, £10,000, which would put the cost to the public purse at about £36 billion.

"It may be slightly more or slightly less, but by not paying the WASPI women the pensions they rightly deserve to date, the Government have already saved £181.4 billion.

"The failed Covid test and trace system in England cost £37 billion, paid to former TalkTalk chief executive, and wife of a Conservative member, Dido Harding for no reason whatsoever.

"That amount alone would have paid full compensation to all the WASPI women to date."

Mr Dorans said the Government should "apologise unreservedly" and move to compensate women affected by what he said was "the worst pension scandal in history".

"They must do so immediately," he continued, "before even more WASPI women die without having received an apology, compensation or justice.

"I urge the DWP to bring proposals to Parliament for a financial redress scheme for all Members to debate and vote on, including a mechanism for MPs to put forward alternatives before the summer recess. 

Mr Dorans concluded: "WASPI women everywhere have campaigned to right this injustice, but may I pay tribute to the tireless work of Frances Brown and Lynn Paterson, the local WASPI co-ordinators from my area, who have given their best and their lives to obtain compensation for all the other WASPI women in our area and across the country.

"I thank them for their support."