MP accuses DWP of 'incompetence or cover-up' over benefit claimants' deaths
Debbie Abrahams blasted 'missing documents' in a row over people who died after being subject to a fit-for-work test
A Labour MP has accused the government of "incompetence or cover-up" over the way it handled benefit claimants' deaths.
Debbie Abrahams attacked the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over claims it kept key documents "hidden" from reviews into fit-for-work tests.
Dr Paul Litchfield led two independent reviews into the so-called Work Capability Assessment in 2013 and 2014.
But this year the Disability News Service reported that two letters from coroners - along with several 'peer reviews' after claimants' deaths - were not given to Dr Litchfield's team at the time.
Ms Abrahams wrote to ministers two months ago demanding to know if the DNS' report was correct.
The DWP finally replied this week - but said it was too late to know for sure and documents may have been destroyed.
In a letter to the campaigning MP, DWP minister Justin Tomlinson said the government "shared all relevant information which was requested" by the review team.
But he said it was up to the reviewers, not the DWP, to decide what documents they wanted to request.
He added: "The [DWP] would therefore not routinely share private information on claimant cases."
Ms Abrahams blasted the reply, telling MPs: "We're talking about the circumstances of people's deaths about five years ago.
"To tell me these documents can't be found smacks at least of incompetence and at worst of a cover-up."
Raising a point of order in the House of Commons, Ms Abrahams said the DWP must ensure it "keeps proper records and reports" and investigate the "missing documents".
She also demanded an "in dependent inquiry into all deaths linked to the government's social security reforms."
Deputy Commons Speaker Eleanor Laing said it was an "extremely important matter" - "one literally of life and death".
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In his letter, Mr Tomlinson confirmed the DWP has carried out 84 "internal process reviews" into individual benefit cases since 2015.
Circumstances that can trigger a probe include investigating whether there was any link to the DWP in a benefit claimant's death.
But the Tory minister claimed "it would not be right" to publish them because they "contain personal information".
He added not all relate to fit-for-work tests, which have been undergone by millions of people claiming sickness and disability benefit Employment and Support Allowance.
Mr Tomlinson said DWP officials had run a "robust and thorough" search to check if documents were shared with Dr Litchfield.
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But he said: "Due to the length of time since the reviews were carried out, factors such as document retention policies, organisational changes and staff turnover mean that information that might help answer these queries is no longer available.
"Therefore, as the information is no longer held by the department, we are unable to comment on this issue any further."
He added: "The [DWP] does not hold or collect data on the reason for death for benefit claimants.
"Whilst any death is extremely distressing for the family, no causal link can be made between the likelihood of dying and the fact that someone is claiming benefits."
