'Comprehensive failure' of work programme - Labour

Government figures assessing the success of its welfare-to-work programme show the main target has been missed.

Firms and charities are paid to help find jobs for the long-term unemployed in the hope of helping 2.4m people.

But official figures showed only 3.53% of people found a job for six months or more - missing the 5.5% target.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne described the scheme as a "comprehensive failure"