Oral Answers to Questions

David Wright Excerpts

Monday 5th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan Smith]

It would be pretty negligible because it is paid to everybody, and it would therefore be impossible to figure it out. Across the board in the Department for Work and Pensions, we are beginning to see a downward pressure on fraud and error. My hon. Friend will be pleased to see that over the next few years we will be saving considerable amounts of money.

[David Wright (Telford) (Lab)]

How many people who have been medically retired from their jobs with severe conditions are being put through the work capability assessment and having their benefits attacked?

[Mr Hoban]

I do not have the precise figures to hand, but I will look into them and write to the hon. Gentleman. It is important to remember—I think there is agreement on both sides of the House about this—that working helps many people’s medical conditions; there is very strong evidence to support that. That is at the heart of the work capability assessment that Labour introduced when in government, and we are trying to sort out the problems with it.