Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan says he is keeping a watching brief on attempts in the UK to review pensions for women.

In the UK and in the Isle of Man, the state pension age has been equalised for men and women.

But campaigners in the UK have argued it left a number of women born in the 1950s at a disadvantage, because they were not given enough notice of the alteration to give them time to plan ahead for retirement.

Mr Cannan said: ’Officers from Treasury are in regular contact with their counterparts in the UK Department for Work and Pensions on all matters concerning state pension provision.

’We are aware of two private bembers’ bills currently before the UK Parliament which seek to establish reviews of pension arrangements for women affected by changes made by the Pensions Act 1995 and the Pensions Act 2011.’

He added: ’As I stated in the recent presentation to Tynwald members on the state pension reforms for the island, I think it is appropriate that the state pension age on the island should remain in line with the UK.

’Therefore, Treasury will wait to see what action the UK Government takes in this matter before determining what action should be taken by Treasury.’

The issue was raised in the House of Keys this week by David Ashford (Douglas North), who said: ’The House of Commons Library found that, in the age range 60 to 62, income poverty has actually risen sharply since the changes, by 6.4%’

Mr Cannan said it was unlikely that any of the changes that lifted the pension age for women would be changed.

He acknowledged some women felt a sense of injustice but said that, in terms of responsibilities through the reciprocal agreement with the UK and in communicating the changes: ’I believe the Isle of Man Government has acted in good faith and in accordance with the reciprocal agreement.’