The Scottish Government has called for a halt on the roll-out of the full service of Universal Credit.

Ministers have written to the UK Government requesting a halt to the service "until problems with its implementation are fully resolved".

Communities and Social Security Secretary Angela Constance said: "It is clear that the system simply isn't working and the UK Government is not prepared to make the necessary changes.

"The six week delay in receiving a payment - with longer delays for some being experienced - is a completely unacceptable situation and one which has the potential to push low income households into further hardship and homelessness.

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"I was also shocked to hear reports that, in some areas, landlords are advertising properties as ‘No UC' due to their experience with the system.

"Despite the UK government having these issues highlighted in the pilots for Universal Credit and by councils, charities, housing associations and parliamentarians, absolutely no meaningful reassurance has been received.

"I therefore cannot be confident that these issues are even close to being fully resolved and it is my view that it is simply not credible for the UK Government to continue with the further roll-out of full service Universal Credit until these problems are fully resolved."

Welcoming the move, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) Chief Executive Mary Taylor said: "The DWP highlighted that further roll-out of the full service of Universal Credit would only be done if it was ‘safe' to do so. With so many families and households falling into debt and forced to use food banks to get them through the initial period, it is clear the system is not safe.

"We have been calling on a halt to the roll-out of the full service until the issues have been resolved, and welcome the Scottish Government's intervention."

(LM)