BOLTON’S Conservative MP has called for a ‘very significant fire break’ in the rollout of Universal Credit.

Chris Green says he has concerns over the ‘mounting evidence’ of problems with the controversial benefits scheme.

Prime Minister Theresa May will not delay the roll-out of Universal Credit despite Labour winning a House of Commons vote calling for a pause in its introduction on Wednesday evening.

The Prime Minister was facing a revolt by Tory MPs and a concession was made hours before the vote, as ministers announced the scrapping of charges of up to 55p a minute to call a UC helpline.

The move appeared to please potential rebels but Mrs May still ordered her MPs to abstain on the vote.

Speaking during his first appearance on the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Mr Green said: “We are hearing mounting evidence of concerns and problems, whether it is the eviction level arrears which are increasingly becoming apparent in certain housing associations, the difficulties of people getting advanced payments, and 10 per cent of people using Citizen Advice Bureau’s services waiting over 10 weeks.

“There seems to be mounting evidence that there are problems within the system and surely there ought to be very significant fire break now to reconsider.”

The Bolton West MP added: “I agree with the idea and vision behind Universal Credit, I think it’s a very good thing.

“But when you see the problems mounting up and you see that the rollout is only going from eight per cent to 10 per cent in January when it should have already pretty much been completed.

“If this is such a good thing but actually it has been delayed and delayed and delayed so people aren’t going to get the support they need to get into work, do we have to pause and reconsider significantly changing Universal Credit and then come back again?”