Tory brushes off suicide warning

Work and Pensions Minister Maria Miller told concerned MPs that the way to help people with mental health problems is to get them off benefits and into work.

Mr Lavery accused Ms Miller yesterday of "callous disregard" for people with mental illness.

He demanded urgent reform of punishing work capability tests run by private company Atos.

"The reason why many people's mental health is getting worse and worse is that they believe the state is constantly chasing them and trying to kick them in a direction that they don't want to go," said the Wansbeck MP.

The minister was tackled in the Commons about an email reportedly issued by managers at the Work and Pensions Department referring to an attempted suicide following a sudden letter to the person concerned that their sickness benefit would be axed.

Ms Miller responded complacently that "of course every case like that is an absolute tragedy, and we want to make sure that the system works really well for the individuals concerned."

She added: "We need much broader understanding of how to ensure that we help people with mental health problems to get into work."

Mr Lavery also berated her about the effects on the health and self-esteem of disabled workers facing sweeping closures of Remploy factories.

Benefits staff union PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka revealed today: "We're receiving some deeply worrying reports from our members about the effects of removing financial support from those who desperately need it."

rogerbagley@peoples-press.com