MSP demands answers on ‘shambolic’ Universal Credit roll out

A south Scotland MSP has said the UK Government must respond to damning criticisms in a report that exposed the “shambolic” roll out of Universal Credit. 

The report – published on Friday by the National Audit office – confirms that the roll out has been too slow, does not deliver value for money and causes hardship.

Commenting, Ms McAlpine said:

“Just last week we heard in from Tory MPs John Lamont and David Mundell welcoming the roll out and telling us that Universal Credit will bring a change for the better. Now we have a report from the National Audit office raising serious concerns.

“I am extremely worried about how the roll out is impacting my constituents in the south of Scotland. The report from the National Audit office makes for disturbing reading – claimants have struggled to adjust to Universal Credit; almost a fifth of claimants across the UK do not receive their payment on time, and that the Tory Government has been unresponsive to concerns raised by external organisations.

“The Tory Government at Westminster cannot continue to brush aside the deep and damaging failings of their Universal Credit system – which is pushing families into poverty, debt and crisis.”

Notes: copy of Audit report: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Rolling-out-Universal-Credit.pdf