By STEWART PATERSON

Political Correspondent

MPs called on the Government to halt the phased roll –out of Universal Credit as people are being pushed in to debt and rent arrears.

The phased implementation of the single payment benefit is due to increase taking in dozens of more areas every month from now until September next year.

In areas where it has already begun MPs said people were waiting six weeks for the first payment with more using foodbanks as a result.

It is not due to come to Glasgow until September next year, at the end of the roll out period.

Universal Credit replaces housing benefit, child tax credit, income support, working tax credit, income-based jobseeker’s allowance and income-related employment and support allowance with one monthly payment.

Claimants can wait up to six weeks before they receive their first payment under the scheme because it is paid monthly in arrears.

However as MPs debated pausing the roll-out in the House of Commons until all problems were fixed the UK Government said it would continue and learn as the process went on.

Frank Field Labour MP, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee said in his constituency the local foodbank said it would need an extra 15 tonnes of food to cope with demand over Christmas.

People moved on to Universal Credit in November will not expect a payment until after Christmas.

Chris Stephens, Glasgow South West SNP MP said: “There should be cross party discussions to ensure constituents are not subjected to destitution.”

He urged MPs to: “ Read the cases of people with huge rent arrears and pregnant women forced to foodbanks and choosing between heating and eating.”

Mhairi Black, Paisley South SNP MP, said the government’s justification was to incentivise people into work.

She said: Plunging people into debt doesn’t incentivise work, forcing them into huge debts doesn’t incentivise work.

“There is no excuse for pushing ahead with this reform. Halt it and halt it today.”

David Gauke, Work and Pensions Secretary said: “Universal Credit is working and the roll out will continue.

“We must continue to work together to resolve issues as they arise.”

He accused Labour of an “attempt to wreck universal credit with no attempt to set up an alternative”.

Former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the system of “test, learn and rectify” was working.

He said it was being phased to avoid previous problems that occurred when tax credits were introduced in one go.

He said: “To stall this would be to damage it.”