Welfare-to-work scheme performance 'abysmal'

The government's Work Programme, a multi-billion-pound scheme to help long-term unemployed people has performed "abysmally" according to Margaret Hodge.

The chair of the Public Accounts Committee told BBC News that although the scheme had only been running for 14 months, the indicators for the success rate were too low and ministers should revise the programme.

Only 3.6% of the people on the scheme came off benefits and into secure employment in its first 14 months, the committee found.