ANGUS Robertson has appealed to David Cameron to publish “as a priority” a UK Government report into a string of suicides following the withdrawal of or reduction to benefits in the wake of a coroner’s warning about the risk of further deaths.
The SNP leader at Westminster noted how there was an urgency given the Conservative administration remained intent on cutting the tax credits of some three million people.
He made his call following an earlier rejection by the Prime Minister to publish the findings into at least 60 investigations by the Department for Work and Pensions into people who had taken their own lives following the withdrawal of benefits.
For the second week running at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Robertson raised the issue.
"We know that at least 60 investigations have taken place into suicides following the cancellation of benefits but the findings of them have not been published,” the SNP leader told MPs, asking Mr Cameron to publish them.
But the PM replied that there were “very good reasons” why the DWP report could not be published, explaining: “Because it has personal and medical data in it, which would not be appropriate for publication.”
He added: "If I've got that wrong, I'll write to you but that is my clear memory of looking into your question after last week."
Mr Robertson highlighted the case of Tim Salter from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, who was 53 when he took his own life; the coroner ruled, explained the Moray MP, that a major factor in his death was that his state benefits had been “greatly reduced, leaving him almost destitute”.
"These tragic deaths cannot be ignored by this Tory government any longer,” declared the party leader.
He explained the experience for the families concerned had been “absolutely harrowing” and lessons needed to be learned so that tragedies could be avoided in the future.
Mr Robertson said: "The Prime Minister has questions to answer; the Department for Work and Pensions has undertaken 60 investigations into suicides that have occurred after benefits were withdrawn or reduced, but has so far, refused to publish what it has learnt.
"The Prime Minister cannot ignore the coroner's warning that there is a risk of further deaths. Given the Prime Minister plans to cut tax credits of three million families, will he publish these findings as a priority?” he added.
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