He told Breakfast there was no question of forcing reluctant mums back to work:

"The parents in your package were saying they're not ready to look for work, and that's fine," he said. "But when they are ready, they'll need this."

What you told Breakfast When you interviewed the lone mothers, where were the fathers? Why should men like me subsidise the irresponsibility of others? John, King's Lynn Read more viewers' comments on our Your Say page

The new benefits are being piloted in eight areas across the UK - you can find out more on them at the bottom of this page.

They will offer an extra �20 a week to lone parents to cover the cost of looking for a job - and �40 a week, non means-tested, for the first year of a new job.

watch our interview in full with Alan Johnson

Pilot scheme

The extra benefits are part of a pilot scheme which starts today across Great Britain (but not Northern Ireland).

The full pilot scheme will run in eight towns and cities: Bradford, Cardiff and Vale, Dudley and Sandwell, Lancashire West, Leicestershire, London South East, London West and Edinburgh.

To be eligible for the Worksearch Premium of �20 a week, you will need to have been on the New Deal for Parents and have been on benefits for more than a year.

If you find a job, you could get an extra �40 a week in benefits, called an In-work credit, for the first year of your new job, as long as you work more than 16 hours a week.

Four further areas will offer in-work credit alone: Central London, North London, Leeds and Staffordshire.

The system of benefits for lone parents is very complicated, so if you want to know more it's best to talk to your local Jobcentre.

Even if you're not eligible for the pilot scheme, you may still be able to get extra help to return to work.