LESLEY Laird MP called for a pause on the roll out of the Universal Credit scheme in a Westminster debate yesterday.

With the new benefits launch due in Fife in just seven weeks, the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath says she is campaigning to fix a flawed six week wait which is pushing over half of claimants into debt, rent arrears or relying on food banks.

Mrs Laird said: "This debate is crucial to make the government take action to fix Universal Credit.

"Labour supports the original principles of the scheme to simplify the benefit system and make work pay, but not at the expense of pushing people into debt, living without heat or enough food while they wait for payments.

"The effects are felt particularly by children and the disabled. This is not the kind of society we want."

The MP said that one in four claimants do not get paid during the six-week period, despite the fact that around half of all those who claim are in need of an emergency advance payment to keep them going for the first two weeks.

She added that even when an advance payment is made it is simply a loan and must be repaid simply adding to the cycle of debt.

The call for a pause in the roll out is supported by cross party MPs and a petition has been signed by more than 100,000 people.

Mrs Laird said: “The Citizens Advice Bureau alone has helped more than 100,000 people since Universal Credit was introduced. This cannot continue and people can no longer be fobbed off with excuses about IT and delays.”

The MP has written to David Mundell MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, to raise her concerns that the scheme is failing to simplify the current benefit system and improve the living standards of claimants.

She has also criticised the "outrageous" 55p per minute premium telephone line which claimants have to call when looking for support.