CREDIT CAKE SLAMMED AS POOR TASTE

Fury at benefit payment staff treat

CIVIL servants celebrated the introduction of the controversial Universal Credit benefit with specially-made cakes, it emerged yesterday.

The Department of Communities said the 40 treats, which cost taxpayers more than £1,000, were fed to staff as part of a “team building” exercise after a “challenging implementation effort”.

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon described the move as distasteful.

The North Belfast MLA told the Irish News “frontline staff are working hard and that should be recognised”.

But she added: “It is also true however that Universal Credit, and the minimum five-week wait for your first payment, is causing financial hardship especially in North Belfast, Antrim and Ballymena where it is being rolled out in the mouth of Christmas.

“To brand cakes with the Universal Credit logo is tasteless and insensitive. Defending the purchase of cakes, a DFC spokeswoman said: “The process of rolling out Universal Credit in Northern Ireland began in September 2017 and completed on December 5.

“This was a significant and challenging implementation effort for the department, involving the recruitment and training of almost 2,000 staff across 40 locations.

“To mark the completion of this task, a total of £1,125 was spent to purchase 40 cakes.”

Universal Credit cake