TORIES TRUDGE ON WITH UNIVERSAL CREDIT ROLLOUT

The SNP has today called on Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to "urgently rethink" the continued rollout of the Tories' controversial Universal Credit benefit.
 
Universal Credit is a new benefit which merges social security and tax credits for working age families - the rollout of  the single payment scheme has been marred with set-backs, shrouded in secrecy and has led to hundreds of millions of taxpayer's money being written off.
 
In a written statement to the House of Commons, Iain Duncan Smith set out the next phase of the rollout stating that it "remains on track to be delivered nationally for all types of claimants from May 2016, completing in summer 2018."
 
Commenting, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, SNP spokesperson for Social Justice and Welfare, said:
 
"On the face of it Universal Credit sounds like it should work: a smooth, streamlined system to assist low income families.  But just under the surface lurks many fractures and failings from set-backs and secrecy to hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer's money written off on IT changes.
 
"It is clear that the Tories are simply trudging on with the rollout of Universal Credit without addressing any of the fundamental flaws or concerns about these draconian policies and I call on Iain Duncan Smith to urgently rethink these proposals. 
 
"The Scottish people voted for an end to austerity when they voted for the SNP, they deserve the leadership they voted for not to face the welfare storm that the Tories are brewing. 
 
"The failures of the UK Government to devolve full power over Universal Credit, means it is left to Scotland to pick up the tab for the Tories poor economic choices and shoddy governance. 
 
"Only with full powers over welfare will Scotland be able to secure a fair and supportive welfare system that our people deserve."