DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
e-mail
: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Our Ref: 2016-3255
11 October 2016
Dear A. Clerk,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 6 September 2016.
You asked:
“Under the Freedom Of Information act I would like to request the number of recorded
deaths of the UK population judged to be fit for work following assessments by
ATOS/WORK CAPABILITY ASSESSMENTS.
This should include all deaths including "Suicides.”
Please also provide details of ongoing legal investigations into the deaths of the UK
population judged to be fit for work following assessments by ATOS/WORK
CAPABILITY ASSESSMENTS.”
The Department published out-of-work benefits mortality statistics for Great Britain here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mortality-statistics-out-of-work-benefit-claimants-
march-2003-to-february-2014
The Department also released some mortality statistics in relation to Employment and Support
Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance, in response to a Freedom of
Information (FOI) request, at the same time here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mortality-statistics-esa-ib-and-sda-claimants
The Department does not hold this information for Northern Ireland. The responsibility for
statistics in Northern Ireland lies with the Department for Communities:
http://www.communities-ni.gov.uk
In response to your request about legal investigations into deaths, the Department does not
hold the information that you have requested.
Legal investigations into deaths, including suicides, in England and Wales are performed by
the relevant Coroner’s office where the death occurred. Please note coroners are not subject
to the Freedom of Information Act.
Legal investigations into deaths in Scotland are administered by the Scottish Courts Service.
Details on how to raise a FOI request with them can be found here:
http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/about-the-scottish-court-service/contact-us/freedom-of-
information
For the relevant information for
Northern Ireland please contact the Northern Ireland Courts
and Tribunals Service here:
http://www.courtsni.gov.uk/en-GB/AboutUs/Freedom%20of%20Information/Pages/default.aspx
If you have any queries about this letter please contact us quoting the reference number
above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central FoI Team
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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team,
Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two
months of the date of this letter.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the
Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a
decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
https://ico.org.uk/
