§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Minister for Women what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions on pension rights for women. [43807]
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§ Ms HewittLast week I wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions highlighting the work that his Department has carried out in ensuring that pension reforms had improved women's rights.
Currently over 1.1 million female pensioners are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee and the new pension credit will benefit lower income pensioners, of whom two-thirds are women.
I also asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ensure that his officials continue to liaise with officials from the Women and Equality Unit so that they can remain informed of the progress on pensions reforms as they affect women and that the development and implementation of pensions policy is analysed by gender so that potential benefits for women can be identified.