Labour has failed on workless households - Webb

“The Government needs to change the way Jobcentres work so that people get help far earlier," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary. Commenting on ONS figures showing the biggest year-on-year increase in the workless household rate since Labour came to power, Steve Webb said:

“Labour’s claims to have tackled worklessness have been exposed as fantasy.

“The alarming jump in the number of households where no one is working is a sure sign that the recession will have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of families.

“The Government needs to change the way Jobcentres work so that people get help far earlier. No one should be sat on benefits for a year after losing their job.”