Employment minister: Positive signs in UK jobless figure

Employment minister Mark Hoban said there were some positive signs in the latest unemployment figures.

Mr Hoban pointed to the record numbers of women in work and the fall in the jobseeker's Allowance claimant count.

The number of people out of work rose by 15,000 in the first three months of this year.

The Office for National Statistics said the total number of people who were unemployed between January and March stood at 2.52 million.

Labour described the figures as "very bad" and said it showed the government's approach was not working.