Universal Credit Benefits System 'In Meltdown', Claims Labour

Labour has claimed that the government's universal credit plans have hit serious problems and that work on the £500m IT delivery contract has been halted and hundreds of IT staff stepped down.  The DWP denied the claim and said the new head of the universal credit (UC) delivery system was in discussions with contractors.  Labour says senior sources among the five firms working on the IT contract have said work has been stopped. Although claims about IT difficulties have dogged the introduction of UC for nearly a year, the shadow work and pensions secretary, Liam Byrne, is convinced a huge new problem has emerged and is airing his concerns ahead of a debate on in the Commons on Wednesday.  His office says the DWP has made clear to the major contractors that hundreds of staff are no longer needed.  There have been suggestions from some ministers that work might be taken in-house as a result of the discussions.  Read more on the Guardian website.