London: There are more than a quarter of a million homes in Britain where no one has ever had a job, according to shocking new government figures.
They were unearthed as part of David Cameron's campaign to find new ways of preventing the workshy living off benefits indefinitely, in some cases with a higher income than people with jobs.
The Prime Minister has ordered an investigation into the numbers of long-term out-of-work and claims that the benefits system makes it more profitable for some people to stay unemployed.
Experts say that children brought up in homes where neither the father nor the mother has had a job are far more likely to go straight from school to the dole queue and stay there.
Of the 264,000 homes where no one has ever had a job, most are made up of lone parents and single people, though a substantial number include two adults.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: "We have to tackle this problem now and make sure no one is ever left behind again.
"These households make up some of the five million people who have just been cast aside on benefits with no meaningful attempt made to help them.
"The Work Programme we are bringing forward will give all those who are out of work and need a job the right support at the right time to make sure they can access vacancies."
There are about five million people on key out-of-work benefits, almost four times as many as those claiming the main dole jobseeker's allowance. Ministers claim the problem has more to do with the flawed system than a lack of jobs.
