A TORY former minister has apologised and urged the Government to compensate disabled benefit claimants who have "suffered" due to years of underpayments.

Sir Mike Penning, who was disabled people's minister between 2013 and 2014, said the Government must "stand up", admit and address any failings linked to its handling of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed the scale of underpayments on Wednesday, which cover a period between 2011 and 2014. The arrears payments are expected to average £5,000 and be paid by the end of 2020.

Speaking in the Commons, Sir Mike said: "The minister has quite rightly apologised. Can I apologise as I was the minister for part of the time when this migration was taking place."

Sir Mike added: "Can I ask the minister to make sure that if there is necessary payments in compensation - because there will be people here that have suffered - that we stand up, admit that and address that rather than a partisan attitude, which I'm sorry we've heard here today, because mistakes were made before, mistakes have been made now and we have to address that today."