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The National Audit Office's savage report on Thursday on the progress of universal credit, Iain Duncan Smith's massively ambitious attempt to transform welfare, has more than a hint of despair about it. It is not news – it is not even surprising – that such a huge and complex programme has run into difficulties. Already pilots have been slimmed down, and the original plan for a national launch in October was scaled back months ago. Now the NAO says the department should rein in some more, and it must set out a realistic timetable. But when it reports that the IT used in the pilot schemes does not have the functionality to meet the fundamental objective of responding to changes in a claimant's circumstance, and the design may not be able to support a national roll-out, then it is hard not to catch a whiff of decay over the whole scheme.The National Audit Office's savage report on Thursday on the progress of universal credit, Iain Duncan Smith's massively ambitious attempt to transform welfare, has more than a hint of despair about it. It is not news – it is not even surprising – that such a huge and complex programme has run into difficulties. Already pilots have been slimmed down, and the original plan for a national launch in October was scaled back months ago. Now the NAO says the department should rein in some more, and it must set out a realistic timetable. But when it reports that the IT used in the pilot schemes does not have the functionality to meet the fundamental objective of responding to changes in a claimant's circumstance, and the design may not be able to support a national roll-out, then it is hard not to catch a whiff of decay over the whole scheme.
Universal credit is a political holy grail, cheaper for the state to operate, more responsive for the claimant and it's been in the pending tray of many an ambitious politician. Mr Duncan Smith saw it as the £2.4bn centrepiece of his programme. And although too much of what he wants to do has been undermined by dogma and crude objectives, universal credit could still be the jewel. Mr Duncan Smith – together with his minister, Lord Freud – have a near-messianic confidence in its feasibility.Universal credit is a political holy grail, cheaper for the state to operate, more responsive for the claimant and it's been in the pending tray of many an ambitious politician. Mr Duncan Smith saw it as the £2.4bn centrepiece of his programme. And although too much of what he wants to do has been undermined by dogma and crude objectives, universal credit could still be the jewel. Mr Duncan Smith – together with his minister, Lord Freud – have a near-messianic confidence in its feasibility.
As a former party leader, Mr Duncan Smith also brought extra clout to Treasury negotiations. Budgets were agreed, dates set and momentum gathered. But, as other ministers' ambitions impinged on the Department for Work and Pensions' objectives, so did the problems. The department struggled to manage the critical IT contracts for the design and build of a system that would allow all claims to be made and updated digitally. At the end of May, Whitehall's major projects authority issued an amber warning. The DWP angrily insisted its evidence was out of date. Now the NAO too has identified very serious weaknesses.As a former party leader, Mr Duncan Smith also brought extra clout to Treasury negotiations. Budgets were agreed, dates set and momentum gathered. But, as other ministers' ambitions impinged on the Department for Work and Pensions' objectives, so did the problems. The department struggled to manage the critical IT contracts for the design and build of a system that would allow all claims to be made and updated digitally. At the end of May, Whitehall's major projects authority issued an amber warning. The DWP angrily insisted its evidence was out of date. Now the NAO too has identified very serious weaknesses.
Government IT projects have a notorious record. Yet the DWP has kept a mysteriously upbeat tone, even as it writes off millions of failed IT. Earlier this week the new project boss Howard Shiplee admitted the focus had been too much on what was going well, not enough on what wasn't. At least there's now external scrutiny, even if it comes at the risk of its grim commentary exacerbating the bunker mentality of those trying to make it work. This has been a slow-motion disaster. Yet universal credit is worth fighting for. The NAO hasn't condemned it, yet. Making it a success would provide invaluable lessons in the kind of complex, interdepartmental project that is the future of government. Labour recognises this. Liam Byrne has renewed an invitation to make it a non-partisan project. Mr Duncan Smith should listen. It could be a proud legacy.Government IT projects have a notorious record. Yet the DWP has kept a mysteriously upbeat tone, even as it writes off millions of failed IT. Earlier this week the new project boss Howard Shiplee admitted the focus had been too much on what was going well, not enough on what wasn't. At least there's now external scrutiny, even if it comes at the risk of its grim commentary exacerbating the bunker mentality of those trying to make it work. This has been a slow-motion disaster. Yet universal credit is worth fighting for. The NAO hasn't condemned it, yet. Making it a success would provide invaluable lessons in the kind of complex, interdepartmental project that is the future of government. Labour recognises this. Liam Byrne has renewed an invitation to make it a non-partisan project. Mr Duncan Smith should listen. It could be a proud legacy.
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