From: O'Kane Samantha DWP COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE
[mailto:SAMANTHA.O'xxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx]
Sent: 28 August 2015 14:05
To: Judith Duffy
<xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx> Subject: RE: Welfare reform enquiry Sunday Herald
Hi Judith,
We won’t have a comment for you regarding your question about representatives
from the UN visiting the UK as all United Nations inquiry processes are confidential.
Please see our comment below:
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman: “Suicide is a sensitive and complex issue and it is irresponsible to link it to our
welfare reforms.
“We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable in society and spend more than
£50 billion every year on disabled people and their services.”
From: Lawson Faye DWP STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Sent: 30 August 2015 10:43
To: 'Siobhan Fenton'
Subject: RE: Request for Comment: UN Investigation
Hi Siobhan,
This isn’t something we would be able to provide comment on.
Best,
Faye
From: Lawson Faye DWP STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Sent: 30 August 2015 12:08
To: xxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: DWP Statement
Hi Dan,
Statement below for you.
Best,
Faye
A DWP spokesperson said:
“All United Nations inquiry processes are confidential and we are unable to comment on the
speculation surrounding this.”
From: Lawson Faye DWP STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Sent: 30 August 2015 17:36
To: 'xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx'
Subject: DWP statement
Hi Kathryn,
Please see below statement.
Best,
Faye
A DWP spokesperson said:
“
All United Nations inquiry processes are confidential and we are unable to comment on the
speculation surrounding this.”
From: Lilley Adam DWP PRESS OFF
ICE [mailto:xxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx] Sent: 05 September 2015 11:59
To: Judith Duffy
<xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx> Subject: Re: UN investigation
Hi Judith,
Here is our response for your article.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Adam
A DWP spokesperson said:
“All United Nations inquiry processes are confidential and we are unable to comment on the
speculation surrounding this.”
From: Swift Peter DWP Press Office
Sent: 06 October 2015 14:20
To: 'Simon Hooper'
Subject: RE: Al Jazeera query re UN disability rights investigation
Hi Simon,
Please see response below:
DWP spokesman said:
“We strongly reject the allegations made by DPAC. The UK has a proud record of furthering
the rights of disabled people, with the principles of the UN Convention at the heart of its
approach.
“Suicide is a tragic and complex issue. The reality is that the mortality rate for people who
have died while claiming an out-of-work benefit has fallen over a 10-year period. This is in
line with the mortality rate for the general working-age population.
“Fol owing reforms to the work capability assessment, which was introduced in 2008, people
are getting more tailored support to return to work instead of being written off on long-term
sickness benefits as happened too often in the past.”
Further info
We continue to spend £50b a year on disabled people and their services.
We continue to reform and modernize our public services and welfare system to ensure that
disabled people are able to participate in every aspect of society.
Over the past year 226,000 more disabled people have found work. We are committed to
halving the disability employment gap and supporting disabled people into work.
We are reforming an overly complex welfare system that too often has worked against the
interests of disabled people by trapping them in dependency. We are committed to positive
and progressive reform, which supports those who are able to enter and remain in work
whilst providing support for those who need it.
DWP statisticians have made clear that no causal link can be made between the likelihood
of dying and the fact that someone is claiming benefits.
The Government continues to support millions of people on benefits with an £80bn working-
age welfare safety net in place.
Kind regards,
Peter Swift
From: Swift Peter DWP Press Office
Sent: 16 October 2015 09:14
To: 'John Pring'
Cc: Wilkinson Ben DWP COMMUNICATIONS
Subject: RE: UN inquiry
Morning John,
Please see below statements as promised:
On the UN inquiry:
DWP spokesman said: “We strongly reject the allegations made by DPAC. The UK has a proud record of furthering
the rights of disabled people, with the principles of the UN Convention at the heart of its
approach. We continue to spend around £50b a year on disabled people and their services.”
On the Sumpter Judgement:
DWP spokesman said:
“We are pleased that the Court of Appeal has unanimously endorsed the decision of the
High Court that the consultation process was fair and lawful. We remain committed to the full
rollout of PIP a benefit which helps disabled people to live independently by ensuring
support is focussed on those who need it most.”
Kind regards,
Peter Swift From: Swift Peter DWP Press Office
Sent: 16 October 2015 16:19
To: 'xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx'
Subject: UN inquiry
Hi Sally,
Please see below in response to your query:
DWP spokesman said: “We strongly reject the allegations made by DPAC. The UK has a proud record of furthering
the rights of disabled people, with the principles of the UN Convention at the heart of its
approach. We continue to spend around £50b a year on disabled people and their services.”
When is your piece expected to run? Will it be online?
Let me know if you need anything else.
Kind regards,
Peter Swift From: Woledge Stuart PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE
Sent: 17 October 2015 16:48
To: 'Judith Duffy'
Subject: RE: UN investigation
Hi Judith,
Please use this as our comment:
A DWP spokesman said:
“We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable people in society and spend more than £50
billion every year on disabled people and their services. We are happy to inform the inquiry of
this.”
Many thanks,
Stuart Woledge On 18 Oct 2015 18:35, "Lilley Adam DWP PRESS OFFICE"
<xxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx> wrote:
Hi Patrick,
Here is our statement for your article on the UN inquiry.
Regards,
Adam
A DWP spokesman said: “We strongly reject the allegations made by DPAC. The UK has a proud record of furthering
the rights of disabled people, with the principles of the UN Convention at the heart of its
approach.
“We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable people in society and spend around
£50bn every year on disabled people and their services. We are happy to inform the inquiry
of this.”
Further info
We continue to reform and modernize our public services and welfare system to ensure that
disabled people are able to participate in every aspect of society.
We are committed to positive and progressive reform, which supports those who are able to
enter and remain in work whilst providing support for those who need it.
Over the past year 226,000 more disabled people have found work. We are committed to
halving the disability employment gap and supporting disabled people into work.
The Government continues to support millions of people on benefits with an £80bn working-
age welfare safety net in place.
On 18 Oct 2015 19:23, "Lilley Adam DWP PRESS OFFICE"
<xxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx> wrote:
Hi Patrick,
Slight revision to the statement, we’ve shortened it slightly – can you use this version please.
Thanks and sorry for any confusion.
Adam
A DWP spokesman said:
“We strongly reject the allegations made by DPAC. The UK has a proud record of furthering
the rights of disabled people, with the principles of the UN Convention at the heart of our
approach.
“We are committed to supporting disabled people in society and spend around £50bn every
year on disabled people and their services. We are happy to inform the inquiry of this.”
Further info
We continue to reform and modernize our public services and welfare
system to ensure that disabled people are able to participate in every aspect of
society.
We are committed to positive and progressive reform, which supports
those who are able to enter and remain in work whilst providing support for those
who need it.
Over the past year 226,000 more disabled people have found work.
We are committed to halving the disability employment gap and supporting
disabled people into work.
The Government continues to support millions of people on benefits
with an £80bn working-age welfare safety net in place.