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Article: Support for 'sick note culture' changes.
- Article from:
- Sunderland Echo (Pennywell, England)
- Article date:
- February 22, 2008
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Thousands of Sunderland incapacity benefit claimants could be encouraged back into work under a new crackdown on the "sick note culture".
On Wearside, 20,440 people are on incapacity benefit, which is nearly 12 per cent of the working age population.
Eighteen per cent - 10,150 people - in Easington receive the benefit, according to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson says he wants to change Britain's sick note culture into a "well note culture" and get people working again.
He said: "Incapacity benefit should not be a one-way street that starts in the GP's surgery and stops at the dead end ...