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Petition · past parliament

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

Closed 46,161 signatures

What the petition asks

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

Government response · 12 August 2015

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

Timeline

21 Jul 2015 Petition opened for signatures
30 Jul 2015 Passed 10,000 signatures, requiring a government response
12 Aug 2015 Government responded
21 Jan 2016 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 46,161
Status Closed
Opened 21 Jul 2015
Closed 21 Jan 2016
Response 12 Aug 2015

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.