Auditors criticise poor fraud detection systems at government department

Young people taking part in the Government's work experience scheme are more likely to leave benefits and find a job, ministers said today.

Leaked report suggests alarm was raised years ago over possible malpractice at Government contractor

Ministers made a crucial concession yesterday to critics of their work experience programme in an attempt to prevent a collapse in support for the controversial scheme.

Ministers made a crucial concession yesterday to critics of their work experience programme in an attempt to prevent a collapse in support for the controversial scheme.

Youngsters on the Government's work experience scheme will be able to leave after a week without facing benefit sanctions under a change announced by ministers aimed at heading off criticism of the programme.

Police have arrested four former employees from the company which holds the Government's welfare-to-work contracts.

Supermarket giant Tesco offered today to pay youngsters on a Government work experience scheme amid continuing controversy over the programme.

Supermarket chain Tesco has amended a job advert looking for permanent workers in exchange for expenses and jobseeker's allowance, saying it was a mistake.

Figures showing 371,000 immigrants were on benefits were rushed out by ministers with insufficient regard for "weaknesses" in the data, a watchdog has complained.

In fact, the Government statistics debunk the myth of ‘benefits tourism

The number of households in the UK where no one is working has fallen slightly to just under four million, official figures showed today.

Kite flying, schoolyard games and sports day sack races have all been hit by an "epidemic" of health and safety excuses, which should be challenged by the public, the Government said today.

The government has been accused of using "gimmicky" policies over a scheme to get families into work.