MP fury over death figures

MP Debbie Abrahams has criticised the Government for going back on a pledge to publish figures on the number of people who have died while on benefits.

Mrs Abrahams, who represents Oldham East and Saddleworth, raised the issue last week during a Westminster debate on welfare reform and the disabled. More than 336,000 people have signed a petition calling for the publication of the information, following the Information Commissioner’s ruling of April 30 compelling the Government to do so.

Though initially the information was going to be published, the Government has now decided to appeal the decision of the Information Commission.

Mrs Abrahams said: “What an absolute shambles! This is definitely in the public interest.

“There are no grounds for not publishing numbers of actual deaths as well as the Government-proposed standardised mortality ratios, including those who died within six weeks of being found fit for work.”

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