Cameron and Miliband clash over cancer patients’ benefits

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 changes.

Mr Miliband said: “How can it be right that people with cancer, 7,000 people with cancer, are losing £94 a week?” He accused 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.

“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.

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