Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he wants to reduce the UK’s welfare bill as quickly as possible, as the government faces criticism over the potential consequences for vulnerable people and public services.

Chancellor John Healey is also under pressure to explain how the government intends to bring spending down. The central question is how the ambition for rapid savings would translate into changes to support, and who would be affected.

Welfare reform could affect millions of people receiving government assistance. Critics’ concerns centre on the possible impact on vulnerable recipients and public services, while the government’s stated priority is to reduce the welfare bill swiftly. No detailed case for particular measures is provided in the available account.

The scale, timetable and means of achieving savings are not specified, making it impossible to assess their likely effects. The issue also risks creating divisions within Labour, adding a political challenge to the unresolved questions about how reform would work in practice.