David Cameron defends welfare reforms

(PA)

David Cameron has accused Labour of using cancer patients as a "smokescreen" as he rejected claims that welfare reforms would leave 7,000 worse off.

The impact of the proposed changes were the focus of angry exchanges at question time in the Commons, where Labour leader Ed Miliband branded the Prime Minister's response a "disgrace".

Mr Cameron told MPs it was "simply not the case" that 7,000 patients would be up to £94 per week worse off because of a one-year limit to contributory Employment Support Allowance.

Some did face a change in benefits, he conceded, but Downing Street accused the charity which analysed the impact of "guesswork".

Macmillan Cancer Support said around 7,000 patients faced losing crucial financial support "simply because they have not recovered quickly enough".

Measures contained in the Welfare Reform Bill, to be debated by MPs later, mean non-means-tested out-of-work Employment Support Allowance (ESA) will only be paid for a year.

In testy exchanges, the two leaders traded accusations over the detail of the proposed changes - Mr Miliband repeatedly citing the charity's complaints.

"How can it be right that people with cancer, 7,000 people with cancer, are losing £94 a week?," he said - accusing the premier of failing to understand his own policy.

Mr Cameron said that was "simply not the case" and that the Government was using the same definition of who was terminally ill as the previous Labour administration.

Means-tested benefits would still be available after the 12 month cut-off, he added.

"That is the truth and you should check your facts before you come to the House and chicken out of welfare reform," he told the Opposition leader.

Macmillan Cancer Support's chief executive Ciaran Devane welcomed the raising of the issue in the Commons and urged the Government to amend its policy.

"Cancer patients want to return to work, and want the support that enables them to do so. But not all are able to," he said.

"We want people who have paid into the system before becoming ill to receive ESA for as long as they are unable to work. We will be very disappointed if the Government fail to make these changes.

"If the Government wants a benefits system which is 'fairer' they must not penalise cancer patients."

Macmillan said the issue did not concern the terminally ill - who would still automatically qualify for out-of-work benefit.

The £94 loss would affect those on the road to recovery who had a partner who worked and more than £16,000 of savings, the charity said.

Head of policy Mike Hobday rejected the claim that the figures were based on guesswork, insisting there were "a large number of cancer patients who are going to lose".

The Government had acted on other concerns, "but on this occasion sadly they haven't listened yet", he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One.

He downplayed the fact that he has stood for election in the past for the Labour Party, insisting he criticised parties across the spectrum when necessary on behalf of the charity.

"All MPs have received Macmillan's briefing for the report stage of the Bill."

Welfare Minister Chris Grayling said the Government would stick to its plans to time-limit the payments - and said the principle of the change had been approved by Labour.

More cancer patients too ill seek work now qualified for automatic long-term benefits, he added.