Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) time and (b) accuracy targets for the (i) processing of universal credit applications and (ii) payment of universal credit.

In 1998 the Government removed targets for speed of payments because of the impact these targets had on accuracy of payments. Successive governments have endorsed this policy. Latest data suggests 81% of Universal Credit claims are paid in full at the end of the first assessment period and, for those cases not paid in full, there are outstanding verification issues.

Advances are also widely available, can be accessed within days and, in an emergency, can be paid on the same day.