Sickness benefit falls

David Benson-Pope is cock-a-hoop about the sickness benefit falling by 848 since the end of March this year.

There is considerable seasonal variation across benefits. Mr Benson-Pope might be disappointed to know that in 7 of the last 9 years the sickness benefit dropped over the month of April. It's normal.

In his favour, it is a larger drop than usual but I wouldn't be getting over-excited at this stage.