They are all fit to work

The sick note culture in Britain must end soon.

Three out of four Employment and Support Allowance claimants are fit to work, according to medical tests carried out by private sector doctors in the biggest crackdown on welfare system in a generation.

Tests found 39 per cent of new claimants fit to work, while a further 36 per cent abandoned their claim before being checked by a doctor, as they knew tests would see them immediately sent to look for a job.

Ministers said figures proved they were right to shake up the welfare system as the current 2.1 million people on Incapacity Benefit costs taxpayers £7bn a year. It would be a price well worth paying if all claimants were actually too sick to work.

Moreover, nearly 80,000 people have claimed Incapacity Benefit for obesity and addiction to alcohol and drugs for several years.

The Government will also test existing Incapacity Benefit (IB) claimants in the next three years and ministers expect 1 out of 3 to be passed fit.

From the 27th October 2008 people can no longer make new claims for Incapacity Benefit, they have to claim Employment and Support allowance instead.