Ian Duncan Smith is attempting to block the publication of “death statistics” that will reveal how many people have died within six weeks of their benefits being stopped.

After a freedom of information request, The Information Commissioner’s Office has said that there is no reason not to publish these figures but Ian Duncan Smith’s department – the Department of Work and Pensions – has launched an appeal to prevent the figures being made public.

Maggie Zolobajluk started this petition to call on the Courts and Tribunal Service to dismiss this appeal and so prevent any further delay by the DWP in publishing these figures.

For years there have been reports of people committing suicide or dying from ill-health soon after their benefits are stopped.

The public needs to know the full impact of benefit changes.

In 2012 the Department of Work and Pensions published statistics which showed 10,600 people who had been receiving benefits died between January and November 2011. These figures caused an outcry, although many disabled campaigners disagreed over what the figures actually showed. Ministers then blocked publication of any updated figures.

Now, thanks to freelance journalist and carer, Mike Sivier, the Information Commissioner’s Office has admitted there is no reason not to publish them. This appeal is the last hurdle to overcome, to get these figures out in the public.

Please support this petition to dismiss the appeal and publish the “death stats”.

See also: Daily Mirror