Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Nick Smith and Laura Sandys(10 years, 2 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
14. How many people are currently claiming universal credit.
Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con)
18. What recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of universal credit.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain Duncan Smith)
Since October, universal credit has started running in Hammersmith, Rugby and Inverness and it is rolling out today in Harrogate and Bath. It is already out in a number of other centres up in the north-west. Based on caseload projections, some 6,000-plus people are likely to be paid universal credit in the pathfinder. That will be subject to confirmation in the official statistics. Many more claim jobseeker’s allowance using the key elements of universal credit, which are also being rolled out to a wider audience. Some 270,000 jobseekers are now using elements such as the claimant commitment, which is part of universal credit.