§ Valerie DaveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Government will make changes to the current system to ensure that all women have access to a basic state pension in their own right. [170966]
§ Malcolm WicksAll women have access to a state pension. They become entitled to a basic state pension by paying, being treated as paying or being credited with national insurance contributions. The amount of basic state pension will depend on the number of qualifying years built up before they reach state pension age.
However, additional policies such as home responsibilities protection exist to enable people to acquire a higher amount of basic state pension.