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| Universal credit: DWP withholding bad news, says senior MP | Universal credit: DWP withholding bad news, says senior MP |
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| The chairman of the parliamentary committee investigating the rollout of universal credit has accused the government of withholding “bad news” over the faltering progress of its flagship welfare changes. | The chairman of the parliamentary committee investigating the rollout of universal credit has accused the government of withholding “bad news” over the faltering progress of its flagship welfare changes. |
| Frank Field said he suspected that ministers had only pressed ahead with the accelerated rollout of universal credit this month because civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had withheld the true scale of the problems. | Frank Field said he suspected that ministers had only pressed ahead with the accelerated rollout of universal credit this month because civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had withheld the true scale of the problems. |
| The MP says that despite evidence of mounting problems with universal credit, the DWP has yet to provide new written evidence to the work and pensions committee, and has so far refused to answer four formal letters requesting statistics and clarifications of policy sent to David Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, over the past six weeks. | The MP says that despite evidence of mounting problems with universal credit, the DWP has yet to provide new written evidence to the work and pensions committee, and has so far refused to answer four formal letters requesting statistics and clarifications of policy sent to David Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, over the past six weeks. |
| Field said: “For the secretary of state not to answer letters shows either a huge discourtesy to parliament or a sign that the government knows the game is nearly up in trying to present this mega-reform as a success. | Field said: “For the secretary of state not to answer letters shows either a huge discourtesy to parliament or a sign that the government knows the game is nearly up in trying to present this mega-reform as a success. |
| “I don’t know if the DWP is deliberately concealing information about universal credit or is simply incompetent. Either way, it is not good enough. This has obvious echoes in the far greater failure of not paying hungry claimants on time. | “I don’t know if the DWP is deliberately concealing information about universal credit or is simply incompetent. Either way, it is not good enough. This has obvious echoes in the far greater failure of not paying hungry claimants on time. |
| “One letter simply asked if the conference announcement on advance payments was, despite appearances, simply a restatement of existing policy. You’d think they could at least answer that one.” | “One letter simply asked if the conference announcement on advance payments was, despite appearances, simply a restatement of existing policy. You’d think they could at least answer that one.” |
| Field’s comments come as Gauke prepares for a potentially uncomfortable appearance before the inquiry committee on Wednesday morning, just hours before an Labour opposition day debate calling for the accelerated rollout to be paused. | Field’s comments come as Gauke prepares for a potentially uncomfortable appearance before the inquiry committee on Wednesday morning, just hours before an Labour opposition day debate calling for the accelerated rollout to be paused. |
| The work and pensions committee inquiry was launched last month amid mounting concern – including on the government backbenches – that flaws in the design and implementation of universal credit, which was meant to streamline and simplify the benefits system, is causing confusion and chaos for many claimants and landlords. | |
| The committee has since received over 100 evidence submissions on universal credit from claimants, landlords, councils and charities. Of those so far published on the inquiry website, almost all report major problems, with consequences for claimants ranging from debt and rent arrears to mental distress and hunger. | The committee has since received over 100 evidence submissions on universal credit from claimants, landlords, councils and charities. Of those so far published on the inquiry website, almost all report major problems, with consequences for claimants ranging from debt and rent arrears to mental distress and hunger. |
| Field said: “Given everything we have heard, I was surprised that David Gauke opted to proceed with the accelerated rollout. I strongly suspect his decision, together with the failure to tell us anything, reflects a culture at the DWP of those most invested in universal credit not telling anyone, including their ministers, bad news. | Field said: “Given everything we have heard, I was surprised that David Gauke opted to proceed with the accelerated rollout. I strongly suspect his decision, together with the failure to tell us anything, reflects a culture at the DWP of those most invested in universal credit not telling anyone, including their ministers, bad news. |
| “The overwhelming picture we are getting is that universal credit as currently configured is very bad news. We have heard nothing, to the contrary or otherwise, from those running it.” | |
| Earlier this month Gauke delivered an upbeat assessment of universal credit in his speech to Tory party conference in Manchester. He rejected calls for the rollout to be paused, calling the changes a step towards a Tory vision of the modern welfare state that was “compassionate, practical and aspirational”. | Earlier this month Gauke delivered an upbeat assessment of universal credit in his speech to Tory party conference in Manchester. He rejected calls for the rollout to be paused, calling the changes a step towards a Tory vision of the modern welfare state that was “compassionate, practical and aspirational”. |
| Liverpool city council said local authorities were moving into “dangerous and uncharted waters” as the cost of supporting increasing numbers of low-income residents plunged into financial crisis by long waits for universal credit payments became unsustainable. | Liverpool city council said local authorities were moving into “dangerous and uncharted waters” as the cost of supporting increasing numbers of low-income residents plunged into financial crisis by long waits for universal credit payments became unsustainable. |
| In evidence to the work and pensions committee inquiry it said: “Given the growing pressures caused by the government’s multiple welfare reforms and the additional hardship resultant from UC [universal credit], the ability of the council and its partners to support those most affected and protect vulnerable households is not likely to be affordable for much longer, or ultimately sustainable. | In evidence to the work and pensions committee inquiry it said: “Given the growing pressures caused by the government’s multiple welfare reforms and the additional hardship resultant from UC [universal credit], the ability of the council and its partners to support those most affected and protect vulnerable households is not likely to be affordable for much longer, or ultimately sustainable. |
| “We, along with many other local authorities, are now in what I consider to be ‘dangerous and unchartered waters’.” | “We, along with many other local authorities, are now in what I consider to be ‘dangerous and unchartered waters’.” |