The unemployed will be given internet training and money to get broadband at home in order to help them find work, the government has revealed.

Employment minister Jim Knight has set out how the government's vision for Jobcentre Plus will allow benefit claimants to carry out most of their job searches online, and set up their own personalised webpage from where they can link through to appropriate jobs.

Those who do not have much computer experience will get training, and some will get a 'technologies budget' to get their homes online.

Knight said that all jobseekers would get a more personalised service, with claimants getting access to a budget which they can use to pay for training courses.

"The Jobcentre Plus of the future is a universal employment service, putting customers at the centre, acting as a broker for employers, with expert staff delivering personal advice and support," he said on Wednesday.

"It is a service that makes the best possible use of technology, is part of a new style of public services, and whose success is measured on the numbers getting into and staying in work.

"We are already extending the service to people facing redundancy and to stay-at-home mums and carers who are thinking about returning to work. It's not a huge jump to see it extending the other way too - with the introduction of the advanced adult careers service we could see a service that runs alongside people at every stage of their lives."