British govt. to finally released benefit related death stats
Statistics highlighting the amount of deaths occurred following the loss of their state benefits are being prepared for publication, according to British Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Just days following Iain Duncan Smith’s denial of such figures ever existing, Cameron has confirmed the controversial figures showing the number of those who have died following the loss of their benefits are to be published.
Cameron made the claims after Labour MP Marie Rimmer, questioned him on whether his Conservative government would comply with a ruling from the information commissioner that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should release the data affecting those between November 2011 and May 2014.
“You have repeatedly been reported as saying you want to create ‘a new era of transparency in government’,” Rimmer said. “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?”
In response 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.”
Labour’s Debbie Abrahams questioned Duncan Smith earlier this week regarding his refusal to publish details on the number of those who died within six weeks of the termination of their incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance.
“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.”
Following the rejection of a freedom of information request for the said data to be released, a complaint was made to the Information Commissioner’s Office which ruled that the DWP should reveal records held that would illustrate the number of benefits claimants who had died after being found fit to work.
Despite the department appealing the ruling, a petition for the release of the data garnered 200,000 forcing Cameron to contradict Duncan Smith’s claims on Wednesday.
SU/SKL
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