IDS Urged To Come Clean On 'Secret Business Case' Behind Universal Credit

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith says the Government has "absolutely nothing to hide" around the cost of implementing Universal Credit amid concern from Labour that it is concealing hidden costs. In a Commons exchange, Labour's Liam Byrne asked Mr Duncan Smith if there is something he's trying to hide after highlighting two estimates around the cost of implementing the reform.  Mr Byrne said: "When Universal Credit is fully rolled out in 2017, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) says that the extra costs will be £3.1bn. The Treasury in its budget says that the price must be no more than £2.5bn. With whose estimate does the Secretary of State agree?"  He continued: "The secretary of state must accept, as I am sure many in the House do, that an extra £600m will have a huge impact on whether people will be better off in work or on benefits. The Treasury clearly believes there is a state of chaos around Universal Credit, as do the Cabinet Office and No. 10. Surely it is time he tells the House exactly what is going on, and sets before us the business case that he is trying to keep secret from us. Is there something he is trying to hide?"  Read more on 24dash.