Suicide Prevention Strategy Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateBaroness Browning
Main Page: Baroness Browning (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Browning's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(10 months ago)
Lords ChamberI remind the House of my personal interest: I have family members claiming ESA. I advise my noble friend the Minister that I am awaiting an appointment with DWP Ministers following Questions that I tabled before the Summer Recess about the suicide rate among disabled benefits claimants—in fact, among all benefits claimants. My concern is not only around the way the DWP collects data but around the way it sometimes does not disseminates the information that it has. Will my noble friend pause in relying totally on the way in which the DWP produces data at present? For example, I am particularly concerned about how it collects information from coroners’ courts. This is something that I think is ongoing; I hope that my noble friend regards it in that way as well.
We are definitely always looking to improve, get access to better data and learn lessons from that. I will make sure that that is understood and follow up with DWP Ministers accordingly.