IAIN DUNCAN SMITH should be investigated for breaching the ministerial code after his department was embroiled in a number of recent controversies, Labour backbencher Debbie Abrahams demanded yesterday.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP urged David Cameron to “take control” as she raised concerns over the conduct of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Speaking at Prime Minister’s questions, Ms Abrahams said: “Two weeks ago, the Work and Pensions Secretary’s department not only admitted to falsifying testimonies in a leaflet but they also published data on the deaths of people on sickness benefit which showed that they are four times more likely to die than the general population.

“This was after the Secretary of State told this house that these data did not exist.”

But David Cameron defended the publication of data by the DWP and its findings, stating it had been released following a promise given by him in the Commons.