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Figures detailing benefit-related deaths to be published, says David Cameron Figures detailing benefit-related deaths to be published, says David Cameron
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has announced that statistics showing how many people have died after losing their benefits are being prepared for publication, days after work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith denied that such figures existed.David Cameron has announced that statistics showing how many people have died after losing their benefits are being prepared for publication, days after work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith denied that such figures existed.
Speaking at Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions, Cameron was responding to Labour MP Marie Rimmer, who asked if the government would comply with an April ruling from the information commissioner that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should publish data on the deaths of claimants of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance between November 2011 and May 2014.Speaking at Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions, Cameron was responding to Labour MP Marie Rimmer, who asked if the government would comply with an April ruling from the information commissioner that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should publish data on the deaths of claimants of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance between November 2011 and May 2014.
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“You have repeatedly been reported as saying you want to create ‘a new era of transparency in government’,” Rimmer said to the prime minister. “Given your desire, why is [Duncan Smith] refusing to release the statistics relating to the deaths of people who have been declared fit for work, as instructed to do so by the information commissioner?”“You have repeatedly been reported as saying you want to create ‘a new era of transparency in government’,” Rimmer said to the prime minister. “Given your desire, why is [Duncan Smith] refusing to release the statistics relating to the deaths of people who have been declared fit for work, as instructed to do so by the information commissioner?”
Cameron replied: “First of all let me reassure you this data will be published and is being prepared for publication as we speak. I think it is important we publish data and this government has published more data about public spending than any previous government.”Cameron replied: “First of all let me reassure you this data will be published and is being prepared for publication as we speak. I think it is important we publish data and this government has published more data about public spending than any previous government.”
Speaking on Monday, Labour’s Debbie Abrahams asked Duncan Smith in parliament why he refused to publish details regarding the number of people who have died within six weeks of their incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance being stopped.Speaking on Monday, Labour’s Debbie Abrahams asked Duncan Smith in parliament why he refused to publish details regarding the number of people who have died within six weeks of their incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance being stopped.
“She knows very well that the department does not collate numbers on people in that circumstance,” Duncan Smith replied. “It deals with individual cases where things have gone right or gone wrong and reviews them. It is a crying shame that Labour members want to go out every day scaring and frightening people. It is no wonder they lost the election.”“She knows very well that the department does not collate numbers on people in that circumstance,” Duncan Smith replied. “It deals with individual cases where things have gone right or gone wrong and reviews them. It is a crying shame that Labour members want to go out every day scaring and frightening people. It is no wonder they lost the election.”
After a freedom of information request for the figures to be released was rejected, a complaint was lodged with the Information Commissioner’s Office, which ruled on 30 April that the DWP should disclose data that would show the number of benefits claimants who had died after being found fit to work.After a freedom of information request for the figures to be released was rejected, a complaint was lodged with the Information Commissioner’s Office, which ruled on 30 April that the DWP should disclose data that would show the number of benefits claimants who had died after being found fit to work.
The body gave the DWP 35 days to make the information public, but the department appealed the decision. A petition calling for DWP to release the statistics had been signed by over 200,000 people by the time Cameron spoke to the House of Commons on Wednesday.The body gave the DWP 35 days to make the information public, but the department appealed the decision. A petition calling for DWP to release the statistics had been signed by over 200,000 people by the time Cameron spoke to the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Raising a point of order after prime minister’s questions, Abrahams asked the Speaker John Bercow why Duncan Smith had claimed that the figures didn’t exist, contradicting what the prime minister had said and the information his own department supplied to the information commissioner.Raising a point of order after prime minister’s questions, Abrahams asked the Speaker John Bercow why Duncan Smith had claimed that the figures didn’t exist, contradicting what the prime minister had said and the information his own department supplied to the information commissioner.
“I’d be grateful for your guidance on how to correct the record and seek an explanation for this error. Frankly this happens too much and puts this House into disrepute,” she said.“I’d be grateful for your guidance on how to correct the record and seek an explanation for this error. Frankly this happens too much and puts this House into disrepute,” she said.
Bercow replied: “If there is an inconsistency between what you have been told in the chamber and what has been said elsewhere by the government and that is a matter of fact, then it will be apparent to ministers who are responsible for the accuracy of what they say and in the event of inaccuracy for ensuring correction.”Bercow replied: “If there is an inconsistency between what you have been told in the chamber and what has been said elsewhere by the government and that is a matter of fact, then it will be apparent to ministers who are responsible for the accuracy of what they say and in the event of inaccuracy for ensuring correction.”