Judith Collins MP
National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

28 February 2007

Sickness Benefit numbers rise (again) under Labour

National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says Labour can’t keep claiming credit for the prevailing economic conditions without taking responsibility for its failure to deal with an explosion in sickness and invalids’ beneficiaries.

“Sickness benefit numbers have increased by a further 2,000 over the past year to yet another record high of 47,483 people. Meanwhile the number of people on the Invalids' Benefit has increased by a further 2,500 to yet another record high of 76,217.

“Despite all its highly funded and unevaluated programmes to get sickness Beneficiaries off benefits and into work, sickness benefit numbers have increased. Even the Minister admits nearly 25% of those who apply for a sickness benefit are able to work.

“Labour's open-door policy on sickness and invalids’ benefits is condemning record numbers of working age adults to poverty.”

ENDS

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