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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Universal credit administration  →  Thread

Universal Credit Panto in Early Stages of Production

NeverSayNo
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Welfare rights department - Northumberland County Council

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…well, I wish it was all just a fantasy.

Selected quotes from IDS in the House of Commons yesterday, and from Margaret Hodge, Chair of the Public Select Committee, today:

IDS: I rise to make a statement about the new announcements on the roll-out of the next part of universal credit. Universal credit is a major reform, transforming the welfare state in Britain for the better and bringing £35 billion in economic benefits to the UK.

MH: The DWP is still not getting it right on Universal Credit.

IDS: Rightly, for a programme of this scale, the Government’s priority continues to be its safe and secure delivery. That is why, after the successful launch of the pathfinder in April 2013, a controlled expansion of universal credit has been taking place since last year.

MH: Now the digital service is already delayed by 6 months and the Department has just 18 months to get it up and running as planned. A further delay in rolling out the new system of just 6 months could lose us £2.3 billion in societal benefits, and the Department has no contingency plan in place.

IDS: The plans have been assured by the Major Projects Authority, the independent body advising the Government.

MH: The programme was put back to square one by the Major Projects Authority, despite this costing hundreds of millions more than if the Department had simply waited for its digital IT to be ready.

IDS: Our careful approach is set to deliver universal credit under budget.

MH: The Department’s unacceptably poor management of this programme has wasted time and taxpayer’s money, with a staggering £600m spent in 4yrs.

IDS exeunt stage right, pursued by a bear.

Andrew Dutton
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Welfare rights service - Derbyshire County Council

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Excellent!

benefitsadviser
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Sunderland West Advice Project

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The thing that genuinely concerns me about the right honourable (sic) gentleman is his blanket refusal to take in any information/evidence or statistics that are contrary to his position.

How can you deal with a man who effectively says “I dont care about your evidence, i believe that i am right”

past caring
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Welfare Rights Adviser - Southwark Law Centre, Peckham

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benefitsadviser - 26 November 2014 11:10 AM

How can you deal with a man who effectively says “I dont care about your evidence, i believe that i am right”

 

Well, he’s clearly deluded and his delusions patently result in a risk of significant harm to others - detain under s. 3 Mental Health Act?

Tim Blackwell
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Developer - Lisson Grove Benefits Program

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Universal Credit was dead: to begin with.

[with apologies to Ebenzer Scrooge].

shawn mach
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rightsnet.org.uk

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“Had William Wilberforce been anything like IDS, I am quite certain the abolition of slavery would still be being tested in regions of the UK with a rollout expected soon….”

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/26/ids-proof-tories-value-political-expedience-iain-duncan-smith?view=mobile#opt-in-message

Gareth Morgan
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CEO, Ferret, Cardiff

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all together now, “it’s behind…”

Dan_Manville
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Mental health & welfare rights service - Wolverhampton City Council

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SHowells - 26 November 2014 12:49 PM
benefitsadviser - 26 November 2014 11:10 AM

How can you deal with a man who effectively says “I dont care about your evidence, i believe that i am right”

 

Well, he’s clearly deluded and his delusions patently result in a risk of significant harm to others - detain under s. 3 Mental Health Act?

It would have to be Section 2 until they found out what was wrong with him. Personally I’d prefer a 37/41 order though

Mike Hughes
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Senior welfare rights officer - Salford City Council Welfare Rights Service

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Gareth Morgan - 26 November 2014 08:42 PM

all together now, “it’s behind…”

“Oh no it isn’t!”...

The rituals and stereotypes of pantomime do seem horribly appropriate.

A dame; a cross dresser; an ugly sister; a go-between. Come on Rightsnet. You know what to do…

Any characters in this production are entirely fictional and bear no resemblance etc.