Call to publish results of investigations into suicides after benefit changes

By The Press Association21st October 2015News EnglandGovernment / Politics, News England, Suicide, Welfare Reform

Pressure has been applied to David Cameron to publish the results of Government investigations into cases of suicides which occurred after benefits were cut or withdrawn.

The SNP’s leader in Westminster Angus Robertson urged the Prime Minister during PMQs to publish the findings.

Mr Cameron said he will “look very carefully” at the issue.

Mr Robertson asked the PM: “Information has recently been released that a coroner has found that a 60-year-old disabled father of two from north London, Mr Michael O’Sullivan, committed suicide following his work capability assessment.

“The coroner warned there is a risk of further deaths.

“The Department for Work and Pensions has reportedly undertaken 60 investigations into suicides that occurred after benefits were withdrawn or reduced but has so far refused to publish what it has learnt.

“Will the Prime Minister publish these findings?”

Mr Cameron replied: “I am aware of the case he raises, although I am sure he will understand it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to discuss the specifics of these cases.

“Suicide is always a tragic and complex issue.

“We should take these matters incredibly seriously.

“I will look very carefully at the specific question he asks about publication but we have changed the work capability assessment to lead to significant improvements following a number of independent reviews to make sure that people get the support that they need and I think that is vitally important.”

Anne-Marie O’Sullivan, daughter of Michael O’Sullivan, said: “On behalf of my family I would like to thank Angus Robertson for raising the question in Parliament today relating to my father’s tragic passing.

“The significance of the coroner’s ruling after dad’s inquest was both traumatic and heart-wrenching for us.

“Yet, despite the DWP admitting to ‘regrettable mistakes’, our understanding is that the WCA system is still unsafe, so why have ministers taken no action, more than two years after dad died? We do not want other families to face the devastation that ours has gone through, but we fear that many have been forced to do so.

“This assessment process is broken and unsafe and we urge the Government to halt the WCA immediately until a more transparent and fairer system can be found. Their current style of assessing disabled people has been proven not to work and to put lives at risk.

“Since losing our much loved father, our lives have changed forever – it left us completely shattered and devastated. Even two years on, the pain we feel is still immeasurable. That void will remain with us always.

“Our father was a gentleman; he was honest, gentle and kind. He should not have been tormented or made to feel like a criminal, at a time when all he needed was some support.

“Lessons must be learned from the catastrophic mistakes made by the DWP in dad’s case and they must never, ever be repeated.”