DATA showing how many people die while claiming out-of-work disability benefits will be published “no later than the autumn,” the government said yesterday.

Work and Pensions Minister Priti Patel reiterated the Prime Minister’s assertion that the statistics are being prepared for release, adding they will be published “shortly.”

Labour’s Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said David Cameron had promised urgent action four weeks ago.

Asking an urgent question in the Commons, she said: “Now is the time to deliver.

“Be open, transparent and publish the numbers that the public and Parliament are calling for. Without this, it brings this House into disrepute.”

In April, the Information Commissioner asked the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to publish the number of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance claimants who have died between November 2011 and May 2014.

The request asked for the figures to be broken down into several categories, including the number of claimants found fit for work.

MPs heard more that than 240,000 people have signed a petition calling for the release of the data.