The latest universal credit figures are an embarrassment for the Tories

Yesterday, the Department of Work and Pensions published their latest figures for the number of people claiming universal credit.

The figures showed that after 2 years there are now just 46,920 claiming Universal Credit. That is less than 5% of the total number of claimants that Iain Duncan Smith originally promised by April 2014. Or, put another way, the government’s flagship program that Iain Duncan Smith had repeatedly said was ‘on time and on budget’ has fallen 95% short of its target during this Parliament.

These latest figures are an astonishing embarrassment for the Tories. In October 2014, the number of claimants expected to be on Universal Credit by the election was brought right down from one million, to 100,000. And the new numbers show that Iain Duncan Smith is not even halfway towards meeting his new revised and downgraded target.

The development and roll-out of Universal Credit has also seen £131 million of taxpayers money wasted on failed IT systems. And there are still some fundamental questions that remain unanswered.  Just recently the Government admitted they did not know how they would assess eligibility for free school meals under Universal Credit, despite the fact that the programme started rolling out to families at the end of last year.  Universal Credit has been – and continues to be – mired in incompetence and chaos.

The warning signs have been clear from the start.  We pointed out at the time that the initial plan was hopelessly unrealistic. The original green paper, in July 2010, contained the absurd claim that the IT system for Universal Credit “would not constitute a major IT project”!  And Ministers have consistently failed to grasp the complexity of the undertaking ever since.”

Labour supports the principle of Universal Credit.  And one of our first actions in government will be a three month pause in the roll-out of Universal Credit. During this time, an independent Board of experts will review the programme to see whether we can continue with its delivery with the existing IT systems that are being developed.

Labour will introduce transparency to any further development of Universal Credit, with clear milestones and timelines, and will call in the National Audit Office to assess the feasibility of those plans.  We will address key questions, such as who will be entitled to free school meals.  We will ensure that no further taxpayers money is wasted and that people have the certainty they need about what they will be entitled to and when.

Despite continuous pressure to admit that the Universal Credit programme has been in serious trouble, Iain Duncan Smith has been in complete denial. But unfortunately for him, the facts speak for themselves. We now know that despite being a major plank of this Government’s reforms, Universal Credit is 95% behind target.

This incompetence and shambles over Universal Credit cannot continue. It is time to get a grip, and it is time for Labour to take control.

Stephen Timms is Labour’s parliamentary candidate for East Ham and Shadow Employment Minister