Iain Duncan Smith's 'Statistical Foul Play' Exposed For Fourth Time In Year

[Old Cruser]

These people will stoop to levels to hide what they are doing - and they keep getting away with it.


Benefits, UK NEWS, Work Programme, Work-Programme, UK Politics News .Iain Duncan Smith has been caught up in a new row over his department's dodgy use of official figures, the fourth in a year.

The controversy erupted after top Department for Work and Pensions official Neil Couling tried to defend the government's Work Programme during a grilling by members of Parliament's work and pensions committee using unpublished data, which angered MPs as they did not have a chance to properly scrutinize the figures.

Labour member Sheila Gilmore complained to Sir Andrew Dilnot, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, who confirmed that "published official statistics should be referred to in public statements" and that alternative information should be used only in "exceptional circumstances".

Sir Andrew added: "It is a matter of regret that DWP’s usual practice, which would have ensured compliance with the National Statistician’s guidance, was not followed."

Labour MP Sheila Gilmore said: "By quoting data that wasn’t publicly available at the time, DWP official Neil Couling made it impossible for my colleagues and I on the Work and Pensions Committee to hold him – and the Ministers to whom he reports – to account. This bad practice must not happen again."









ttp://benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/2673-iain-duncan-smith-s-statistical-foul-play-exposed-for-fourth-time-in-year

[Pete]

He's a sneaky sod, isn't he? I wouldn't trust him with our yard brush.

[Old Cruser]

Had this information in a news letter, it covers the lie detector issue, and at the bottom in bold raises some concerns for anyone I would think as none of us knows what is around the corner for us in our lives.


Lie Detectors, Weird Phone Calls And Shoving Claimants To The Back Of NHS Queues

According to freedom of information requests made by the Guardian, Capita are still making millions from persuading councils up and down the country to use their discredited lie detector software on benefit claimants.

This is despite the fact that the system was originally developed by Israeli intelligence for use on terrorists, not people needing help with paying the rent. 

And it’s also despite the fact that even the DWP say the telephone-based voice risk analysis software isn’t reliable.  Independent experts have even compared it to astrology.

What it does do very reliably, however, is increase the impression that claimants should be treated like criminals . . . and make a mint for Capita, of course.

Disturbing phone calls of a different kind have been reported by blogger and support group claimant Lisa Egan.  She was called by her local Jobcentre to ask what her ‘aims’ were and quizzed about her former employment as a stand-up comedian.  We’d like to know if other support group members have been contacted by their Jobcentre and asked about their employment prospects.

Though employment, or the lack of it, may soon affect more than just your income and social standing.  If Dame Carol Black has her way it will also affect your chances of getting treated in a reasonable timescale by your local hospital.

Dame Black, inventor of the ‘fit note’ wants to start a national debate about whether the NHS should prioritise treatment for sick workers over those who don’t have a job. 

In other words, if you’re unemployed there’s less point in giving you prompt medical treatment if there are economically active people also waiting for help.  Astonishingly, the chief medical officer at the DWP appears to agree that this is an issue that needs to be discussed.

[hifimad]

Had this information in a news letter, it covers the lie detector issue, and at the bottom in bold raises some concerns for anyone I would think as none of us knows what is around the corner for us in our lives.


Lie Detectors, Weird Phone Calls And Shoving Claimants To The Back Of NHS Queues

According to freedom of information requests made by the Guardian, Capita are still making millions from persuading councils up and down the country to use their discredited lie detector software on benefit claimants.

This is despite the fact that the system was originally developed by Israeli intelligence for use on terrorists, not people needing help with paying the rent. 

And it’s also despite the fact that even the DWP say the telephone-based voice risk analysis software isn’t reliable.  Independent experts have even compared it to astrology.

What it does do very reliably, however, is increase the impression that claimants should be treated like criminals . . . and make a mint for Capita, of course.

Disturbing phone calls of a different kind have been reported by blogger and support group claimant Lisa Egan.  She was called by her local Jobcentre to ask what her ‘aims’ were and quizzed about her former employment as a stand-up comedian.  We’d like to know if other support group members have been contacted by their Jobcentre and asked about their employment prospects.

Though employment, or the lack of it, may soon affect more than just your income and social standing.  If Dame Carol Black has her way it will also affect your chances of getting treated in a reasonable timescale by your local hospital.

Dame Black, inventor of the ‘fit note’ wants to start a national debate about whether the NHS should prioritise treatment for sick workers over those who don’t have a job. 

In other words, if you’re unemployed there’s less point in giving you prompt medical treatment if there are economically active people also waiting for help.  Astonishingly, the chief medical officer at the DWP appears to agree that this is an issue that needs to be discussed.

why am i not suprised i know benefit recipeints are treated as though they are spongers, scroungers, feckless, workyshy, layabouts, please don't tell me i have to add terrist to the list i can't  even spell it

[hifimad]

Dame Black, inventor of the ‘fit note’ wants to start a national debate about whether the NHS should prioritise treatment for sick workers over those who don’t have a job.

In other words, if you’re unemployed there’s less point in giving you prompt medical treatment if there are economically active people also waiting for help.  Astonishingly, the chief medical officer at the DWP appears to agree that this is an issue that needs to be discussed. i suppose if your extremely rich or a highly paid civil servant with BUPA, you can come up with this affront to human dignity because it will not affect you.

[therealjr]

So one arm of government is trying to force sick people back to work whilst another arm is saying they won't treat sick people who are out of work. So how do the 'sick' people get better so that they CAN get back to work? Strikes me as more Daily Mail headlines rather than a serious proposal

[Old Cruser]

why am i not suprised i know benefit recipeints are treated as though they are spongers, scroungers, feckless, workyshy, layabouts, please don't tell me i have to add terrist to the list i can't  even spell it    

I wouldn't, worry about spelling stuff on here hifimad we all do it especially me