UC slowdown

The government’s UC intro is now not happening in full in October next year.  The DWP has said that it is going “to concentrate on the principal deliverables to October 2013”.

What that means is unclear; housing?

where did you hear that?

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3432867.ece

“Ministers have been forced to delay, alter or ditch scores of policy promises according to a 510 page document released yesterday which outlines how many of its plans are running into the ground.

Plans to introduce universal credit face fresh delays, according to the Government’s annual “Business Plans”, while significant U-turns have been performed on a range of issues”

“The promise made last year to “begin the national implementation of universal credit” in October 2013 has been changed. It now says this will be the date to “begin roll-out of the national implementation of universal credit”, suggesting it will no longer be ready nationally on that date. The DWP said the change was to “concentrate on the principle deliverables to October 2013”. “

here’s link to dwp business plan 2011-2015 -

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/dwp-business-plan-2011-2015/

This looks like a fairly major deceleration compared with DWP’s original UC timetable. I wonder if DCLG will still feel the need to continue with their breakneck rush towards CTS / Poll Tax 2?

Option a)

Mr Pickles says “we went too fast” and spends £500m of DCLG money on maintaining CTB ‘as is’ for another year.

Option b)

Mr Pickles says “Local authorities inefficient and dilatory” and saves £500m from his budget.

Take your pick.

“no offers” on option B, as we bookie types would say