MSPs demand halt to new benefit roll-out
Tories accused of ‘carrying on regardless’
THE UK Government must stop the roll-out of controversial benefit changes, MSPs demand today.
Holyrood’s Social Security Committee wants an urgent halt to a pilot scheme to move people on to Universal Credit until its impact on people is more clear.
MSPs on the committee have already raised concerns around the implementation of the new system and urged the Department for Work and Pensions to halt its roll-out.
However, in March, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd confirmed that claimants in Harrogate still on oldstyle benefits would be the first people to be moved on to UC under a pilot starting this month.
Bob Doris of the SNP, who chairs the committee, said “We are deeply concerned that despite raising this issue with the DWP in January, and the UK Government’s failure to appear at our committee to give evidence, they have carried on regardless.” Doris said the changes were a “huge cultural shift” and added: “We do not believe it is right to sanction the working poor, effectively punishing people for going to their work.
“The DWP has said they are currently taking a ‘light touch’ approach to in-work conditionality or sanctions. But there is little confidence that when the system rolls out more widely, low-paid and part-time workers won’t suffer as a result.
“The rollout of Universal Credit has been littered with mistakes and it is vital that this latest pilot is put on hold to ensure there is no negative impact on claimants who rely on this money.” Rudd claimed in March that the move to Universal Credit was “positive”. She said claimants would get “a more personal service”.
She insisted that the switchover of about three million people would be handled “carefully” to make sure it was “hassle-free”.