Conservative Conference 2014: Iain Duncan Smith Ramps Up Universal Credit Delivery

The UK government's flagship welfare reform Universal Credit will have its delivery process accelerated next year, according to Iain Duncan Smith.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, said the reform will be rolled out to all Jobcentres and local authorities across the country from early next year.

Universal Credit brings together six benefits and tax credits, including Income Support and Housing Benefit and tax credits into a single monthly payment.

The Department for Work and Pensions said the new service is already available in over 50 Jobcentres in England, Wales and Scotland, and will be available in almost 100 by Christmas.

"[Universal Credit] is helping people to get into work quicker and stay in it longer, making a lasting difference to people's lives now and for generations to come," Duncan Smith said.

"I promise you we are going to finish what we started."

The announcement comes after a series of setbacks for the welfare reform.

In November 2013, the cross-party Public Accounts Committee said the programme suffered from "alarmingly weak" management and argued its implementation has been "extraordinarily poor".

The group of MPs also claimed the mismanagement of the project by Department for Work and Pensions had led to the waste of £140m ($238m, €175m) of taxpayers' money.

The Labour Party have said it would "pause" Universal Credit for three months if it gains power after the 2015 General Election next may.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced the pledge in June and, among other things, said a Labour government would "cut red-tape" for self-employed people using the programme.