New figures released today show that the Department for Work and Pensions has been forced to spend £52m compensating people for mistakes made over the last 6 years.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott said:

"These figures reveal how endemic and costly official error is at the DWP. Ministers have turned a blind eye as the cost of these mistakes has risen.

"Not only is it hurting the public purse, it is hurting those most in need who rely on these payments to make ends meet.

"The benefits system is so complex that even officials don’t understand it. It must be simplified to cut out the mistakes and fraud that are proving so costly to the taxpayer."