Chris Bryant, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Welfare Reform, responding to Sir Bob Kerslake’s admission that the Treasury has still not approved the business case for Universal Credit, said:
“Last week ministers said the Treasury had signed off the business case for Universal Credit. But today one of the most senior civil servants has contradicted them, saying the Treasury is still refusing to approve the government’s £12.8 billion welfare reform programme. It is more evidence of the chaos surrounding Universal Credit and it raises worrying questions about George Osborne’s refusal to endorse his government’s flagship welfare reform scheme.
‘It’s time for David Cameron to call in the National Audit Office as a matter of urgency to get to the bottom of the true extent of the chaos surrounding Universal Credit.”
Ends
Editor’s notes:
1. Speaking at the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee today about the Treasury and the business case for Universal Credit, Sir Bob Kerslake, Head of the Home Civil Service and Permanent Secretary, Communities and Local Government said, “We shouldn’t beat about the bush: it hasn’t been signed off” Bob Kerslake, PA ex-Public Accounts Committee, 7 July, 2014
2. Parliamentary answer on 30th June 2014
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 174W, on universal credit, whether he has approved the Department for Work and Pensions’ business case for the implementation of universal credit. [202461]
Esther McVey: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has approved the UC Strategic Outline Business Case plans for the remainder of this Parliament (2014-15) as per the ministerial announcement (5 December 2013, Official Report, column 65WS)—link to WMS
Hansard, written answer, 30 June 2014, column 434W, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140630/text/140630w0004.htm#140630w0004.htm_wqn35