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Individually tailored work schemes for people who have difficulty finding jobs would be rolled out by the Liberal Democrats.

Paul Holmes, spokesperson for work, said Labour's "shambolic" welfare-to-work programme, the New Deal, would engage people individually under the Lib Dems.

He dismissed the New Deal as a programme with a "one-size-fits-all" approach which had low rates of success.

Holmes said the new system would also make the most of local employment opportunities. "The New Deal needs complete and total reform. Flexibility is the key, with training programmes linked to the local labour market," he said.

The party also promised more help for disabled people and other groups who face major barriers to employment .