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Further indications that the Government's flagship Universal Credit (UC) programme is falling behind schedule emerged last week, with the announcement that only six jobcentres are to be involved in the next stage of its rollout.

Under the original department for Work and Pensions timetable, it was planned that the service would be made available to all claimants from that date. In addition, ministers have accepted recommendations, from outgoing major projects troubleshooter David Pitchford, to overhaul the real-time IT systems underpinning the single payment benefit. Officials will explore enhancing the IT for the welfare reform by working with the Government Digital Service to take advantage of technological advances since the current system was first developed – which could result in a more flexible and secure programme.