To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to extend the right of women to buy retrospective national insurance contributions in order to qualify for a state pension. (226142)

The Government have considered a range of options to help individuals who have gaps in their National Insurance contribution records to purchase additional voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions. We propose to allow individuals who are eligible to purchase voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions to buy an additional six years over and above those permitted under the current time limits. The time limited proposal will apply to those who reach State Pension age between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2015 and who already have 20 qualifying years (taking into account Home Responsibilities Protection) on their National Insurance record.

The measure will help people, particularly women and carers, who are approaching State Pension age but have earlier gaps in their National Insurance records to improve their basic State Pension.

We intend to amend the current Pensions Bill to give effect to the measure.