Ministers were caught in a storm of criticism yesterday after handing the lion’s share of a new programme supposed to get the long-term unemployed into work to security firm G4S while it’s under investigation for fraud.

The Help to Work scheme aims to force people into jobs by threatening to dock their benefits if they refuse to take part.

Those who have been on the government’s existing work programme for more than two years will have to undergo intensive coaching, meet a jobs adviser every day or do community work for up to six months provided by privateers.