In response to the National Audit Office’s report into the roll-out of Universal Credit, Labour’s London Assembly Spokesperson for the Economy, Andrew Dismore AM, said:
”We have seen a huge increase in rent arrears in Universal Credit pilot and roll-out areas. Cash-strapped local authorities have also had to intervene financially to help Londoners and their families left destitute by protracted delays to benefit payments.
“We have also received evidence from a London foodbank that the rollout of Universal Credit has caused a spike in the provisions they have handed out.
“The administration of Universal Credit has also been woeful, and it has now been revealed that the system costs four times as much as originally expected.
“The evidence that has stacked up exposing the failure of the Government’s welfare reforms is fast becoming insurmountable. This is why I back the Mayor of London’s call for the roll-out of Universal Credit to be paused and comprehensively reviewed”.
Notes to editors
Andrew Dismore AM is the London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden.