Universal Credit – Parliamentary Written Answer

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 660W, on universal credit, whether he expects any further jobcentres to take new claims for universal credit before April 2014.

Mr Hoban: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 660W. We remain committed to delivering universal credit by 2017. Between October 2013 and March 2014 six more Jobcentres will be taking new claims for universal credit. This means we will be testing UC in each region across the country. This will significantly expand our ability to test and learn as we progressively roll out universal credit. The exact number of claims will depend on local economic conditions. We will make further details of our plans available in the autumn.