British Unemployment Rises

News comes on the same day the chancellor of the exchequer is scheduled to release the government's 2013 budget

Unemployment rose by 7,000 to 2.52 million between November and January, according to official figures.

The rise will put extra pressure on Chancellor George Osborne in advance of his lunchtime Budget.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in February fell by 1,500 to 1.54 million, the lowest level since June 2011, the Office for National Statistics said.