Just
12 months ago, I wrote*
“…..word on the street is that Iain Duncan Smith’s
welfare reform programme is heading towards the rocks. If that results, he will
be facing his own interview on the Work Programme in the near future.”
Clearly, I got something wrong. Iain Duncan Smith is still
the responsible Secretary of State.
In fact, the government simply denied the evidence that was
accumulating. Pilot programmes – meant to test proposals and identify
unanticipated problems - were simply ditched in order to keep to
timetable. Those of us asking challenging questions were just dismissed.
So,
presumably, everything is all right with the government’s welfare reform
agenda?
Make
up your own mind:
- the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is descending
into chaos, with key programmes behind schedule and over-budget.
- after spending £612 million, including £131 million
written off or written down, the introduction of Universal Credit is now
years behind schedule, with no clear plan for how, when, or whether full
implementation will be achievable or represent value for money.
- the Work Capability Assessment process is in “virtual
collapse”.
- the introduction of Personal Independence Payment has
been described as “nothing short of a fiasco”.
- the Work Programme and Youth Contract have failed to
meet their targets
- the unfair Bedroom Tax risks costing more than it
saves,
- other related DWP programmes are performing poorly or
in disarray
- the Minister of State for Disabled People admits that
more than 700,000 people are still waiting for a Work Capability
Assessment, and
- the Office for Budget Responsibility has found that
projected spending on Employment and Support Allowance has risen by £812m,
instead of falling.
So,
everything’s all right then? Well, no.
