Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:

“Iain Duncan Smith’s claim this morning that almost 40,000 people are claiming Universal Credit shows why this programme has become a complete shambles. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show just 17,850 people are claiming Universal Credit, less than two per cent of the million people Iain Duncan Smith said would be on the new benefit in April 2014.

“Labour wants Universal Credit to succeed but the Government’s mishandling of the programme has led to huge waste and delays with over £130 million of taxpayers money wasted on failed IT. It’s another example of Tory Welfare Waste.

“A Labour government would pause Universal Credit for three months to examine whether the programme can be rescued from the shambles David Cameron’s Government has left it in.“