Duncan Smith in denial about universal credit delays, says Rachel Reeves
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Version 0 of 1. Iain Duncan Smith is in denial and failing to admit that universal credit benefit reform is running at least two years late, Rachel Reeves, the shadow work and pensions secretary, told MPs as Labour attacked the government's record on welfare. Duncan Smith said on Tuesday that universal credit would roll out without damaging a single person, unlike the Labour government's tax credits launch. He said he was running a system of "test, learn and implement". The work and pensions secretary was speaking after he announced last week that at least 700,000 people on employment support allowance would not be on universal credit by the end of 2017. He has also had to write off a minimum £40.1m of software after it was proved to be insecure. He has been told to present a new business case to the Treasury early next year, but Duncan Smith said "it will deliver exactly as we said and it will roll out very well", adding he had the confidence of the Treasury. He said the Labour criticisms were nitpicking. Universal credit merges six different benefits and is designed to increase incentives to work. Labour has been trailing behind the Conservatives in polls on welfare for the whole of this parliament, but is hoping to narrow that lead by questioning the competence of the government's welfare changes. Reeves told MPs that in November 2001 Duncan Smith had said all new applications for existing benefits and credits would be entirely phased out by April 2014, but "we have now learned this milestone will only be reached in 2016, representing a delay of two years. Even by 2017, 700,000 people will not be on universal credit." Duncan Smith won support from his own side as he said the last government wasted money on an NHS patient booking scheme. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |