Papers could expose the UK government's problems and fears surrounding the introduction of Universal Credit
Campaigners are claiming victory over the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) after the government body was forced to release documents relating to the national roll out of Universal Credit.
After a battle lasting several years, the DWP has been forced to release the documents following an initial Freedom of Information (FOI) request made back in 2012.
Last month the DWP lost a legal challenge to keep the documents out of the public domain, and despite feared it would appeal the decision, the government has now released the papers.
Universal Credit is a welfare benefit introduced in the United Kingdom in 2013 to replace six means-tested benefits and tax credits. It is still being phased into local authority areas across the UK.
It's just a shame it's been fighting to prevent disclosing them for so long.”
The total lifetime cost of the project has increased by £3bn over the past two years to £15.85bn, according to the Major Projects Authority's report in 2015.
Campaigner Tony Collins and investigative journalist John Slater made FOI requests for the documents in an attempt to expose any problems with the implementation of the scheme as well as the outcome of a high-level review of the programme.
The DWP has fought against the disclosure of internal reviews relating to the start of the project under FOI laws, including mounting appeals and instigating several delays to the process.
Now the documents have been released to the campaigners who are crurrently analysing them.
“It’s great news that the DWP finally decided to disclose the Universal Credit documents," Slater said.
“As many people have commented, it's just a shame its been fighting to prevent disclosing them for so long.”
The fight may continue however as not all the papers requested have been released.
Documents relating to open registers, which detail issues and risks which are ongoing and closed registers, which provide information about problems the programme has faced, have yet to be disclosed.
“Both the open and closed issues and risks registers were requested, but it seems only the open registers have been included in the disclosure," Slater said. "That still needs to be discussed and resolved.”
