HC Deb 09 February 1933 vol 274 cc330-1
2. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Labour the total cost of the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the years 1924 and 1932?

Sir H. BETTERTON

The total cost of administering the Unemployment Insurance Acts was £4,494,760 during the financial year 1924–25 when the live register averaged 1,146,629 and £6,996,882 during the financial year 1931–32 (which is the latest year for which figures are available) when the live register averaged 2,646,769. In 1931–32 the Exchequer refunded £1,632,821 (out of the total cost of £6,996,882) to the Unemployment Fund as the approximate cost of administering transitional benefit and payments.

Mr. BATEY

Seeing that there has been such a huge increase in the cost of administration, from £4,000,000 to £6,000,000, will the right hon. Gentleman say what steps he is taking to reduce the cost?

Sir H. BETTERTON

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The average cost per head in 1924–25, the first year, was £4, and for 1931–32 it was under £3 per head. So there is a reduction in the cost per head.

Mr. BATEY

I was not asking about the cost per head but about the total cost. I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that the cost had increased from £4,000,000 to £6,000,000. Is that so?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Yes.

Mr. BATEY

Is not that a huge increase in cost for the machinery and is the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps to reduce the cost?

Sir H. BETTERTON

The answer is obvious. There has been a very large increase in the number of those on the register.