Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Prime Minister's Oral Answer of 24 June 2015, Official Report, columns 885-86 and to the Answer of 22 June 2015 to Question 2955, (a) for what reason his Department changed its policy on publishing statistics on the deaths of disability claimants, (b) when those statistics will be published, (c) how much those statistics will cost to produce, (d) for what reason those statistics could previously only be provided at disproportionate cost, (e) when his Department began collecting those statistics and (f) for what reason it began collecting those statistics.

The answers to your questions are as follows:

(a) The decision to publish out-of-work benefits mortality statistics has not changed.

(b) The publication date will be pre-announced here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/list-of-scheduled-upcoming-ad-hoc-statistical-releases

(c) A cost estimate is unavailable.

(d) It was not possible to answer the original question within cost limits.

(e) and (f) I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 22 June 2015 to Question UIN 2905