Universal Credit – Parliamentary Oral Answer

Steve Rotheram (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab): What his most recent estimate is of the number of people who will be claiming universal credit by April 2014.

Mr Iain Duncan Smith: Based on caseload projections, we expect more than 6,000 claimants from the pathfinders to be on universal credit in January. Beyond the pathfinder scheme and in the live running of universal credit, we are also rolling out other components, such as the claimant commitment. Jobcentre Plus advisers have agreed around 120,000 JSA claimant commitments, rising by some 30,000 each week. That continues our progressive approach to date, enabling a safe and successful delivery.