Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to merge the two IT systems being developed by his Department to deliver universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

There is one single plan for a Universal Credit on-line service. The current live service is already offering more online services than ever before, with stronger work incentives to get people back into work, and this week we started its expansion across the North West of England. The enhanced digital system is an extension of the current online services and will integrate work and benefits activity, making best use of technology.