The shadow chancellor has condemned the government's failure to meet targets for improving public services.

Michael Howard told the Commons on Thursday that the government was failing 40 per cent of its 1998 targets and 75 per cent of the targets it set in 2000.

He said the government had failed to provide evidence for its own "ludicrous claims" on meeting its targets.

Responding, the chief secretary to the Treasury said the government had met 87 per cent of the 1998 targets and 93 per cent of those set in 2000.

Paul Boateng called on the Tories to substantiate their own claims, which he described as "absolute nonsense".

Howard said the Conservatives had published their evidence last autumn, while Boateng could not justify his statements.

"What he has failed to do is provide any supporting evidence, despite repeated requests, for the evidence that he has just given," he said.

"Isn't it the truth that the target regime is a complete shambles?".

The shadow chancellor said five government departments had still not published their reports on achieving the targets.

Boateng said Howard had "missed the point".

"Is he really suggesting that any management system, any business or enterprise worth its name, shouldn't use targets?," he asked.

"Is he really suggesting that we shouldn't have targets, because frankly if he is such a suggestion is absurd."