KEY POINTS:
The National Party believes the government is trying to cover up a $25 billion bill for maintaining people on the DPB, sickness and invalids' benefits.
The party has released Official Information Act figures which were discussed in Cabinet last year.
Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says despite much-trumpeted plans to get people off long-term benefits, the number has fallen by just 1,000 since the research was done.
She says 225,000 people are still on the sickness benefit or DPB, and it will cost the state $25 billion to look after them.
- NEWSTALK ZB
