To debate a vote of no confidence in DWP secretary Ian Duncan Smith

Parliament:: 2015–17
Signatures:: 46,161
Responded:: 12 Aug 2015

The petition

For denying the existence of, and refusing to publish data on the deaths of claimants of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance between November 2011 and May 2014. This is despite the rulings of the Information Commissioner and public pressure resulting in a 200,000 strong petition.

More information can be found in the links below:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/24/benefit-related-deaths-david-cameron-dwp

http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/reign-of-terror-iain-duncan-smith.html

http://www.bigissue.com/features/3637/atos-deaths-and-welfare-cuts http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/28/man-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut

https://www.change.org/p/hm-courts-and-tribunal-service-publish-stats-showing-how-many-people-have-died-after-their-benefits-stopped

The government's response

Out-of-work benefits mortality statistics need to meet the high standards expected of official statistics. Once we have completed that important work, the Department intends to publish them.

The Department for Work and Pensions intends to publish out-of-work benefits mortality statistics and the publication date will be pre-announced on the Government website via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/list-of-scheduled-upcoming-ad-hoc-statistical-releases

However, before doing so they need to meet the high standards expected of official statistics. Once we have completed that important work, we will publish them.

Department for Work and Pensions

The petition

More information can be found in the links below:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/24/benefit-related-deaths-david-cameron-dwp

http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/reign-of-terror-iain-duncan-smith.html

http://www.bigissue.com/features/3637/atos-deaths-and-welfare-cuts http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/28/man-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut

https://www.change.org/p/hm-courts-and-tribunal-service-publish-stats-showing-how-many-people-have-died-after-their-benefits-stopped

The government's response

Out-of-work benefits mortality statistics need to meet the high standards expected of official statistics. Once we have completed that important work, the Department intends to publish them.

The Department for Work and Pensions intends to publish out-of-work benefits mortality statistics and the publication date will be pre-announced on the Government website via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/list-of-scheduled-upcoming-ad-hoc-statistical-releases

However, before doing so they need to meet the high standards expected of official statistics. Once we have completed that important work, we will publish them.

Department for Work and Pensions