HC Deb 12 December 1922 vol 159 cc2569-70
69. Mr. NICHOL

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sums paid during the last three years by the Treasury into the Unemployment Insurance Funds; and whether such payments are grants or loans?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Montague Barlow)

I have been asked to reply. The total sums paid by way of State grant to the Unemployment Fund (including the Unemployed Workers' Dependants Funds during the last three years are:—

£
For the financial year 1920–21 2,168,640
For the financial year 1921–22 8,123,430
For the financial year 1922–23 (8½ months) 8,273,350
£18,565,420
In addition to this, repayable advances have been made out of the Consolidated Fund during the last 18 months totalling £14,980,000.

Mr. NICHOL

Does this not compare very unfavourably with the amount of the subsidies—£167,000,000 as compared with £18,000,000 subsidy and £14,000,000 loan to the unemployed?

Sir M. BARLOW

That is a matter of opinion. I do not think it arises out of the answer.

Mr. NICHOL

It is a matter very largely of fact.