Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2019 to Question 253698 on Universal Credit: Domestic Abuse, what progress has been made on establishing the practicalities of delivering separate payments in Scotland.

The development of a detailed policy to split payments of Universal Credit in Scotland is something for the Scottish Government to determine.

Any policy has to be capable of implementation and as a consequence must fit with the existing architecture of the system if it is not to undermine system stability for all claimants across Great Britain.

Scottish Government final proposals have not yet been shared with the Government. We welcome the great care Scottish Government is taking with this.

When a comprehensive set of proposals has been decided upon by the Scottish Government, we will provide advice on timing and implementation dates, with regard to the wider plan to deliver Universal Credit and the relative priorities of split payment proposals against other demands.

Officials from both Governments continue to explore these issues together to see if a workable solution to the many issues raised can be found.