§ 16. Mr. LEVYasked the Minister of Labour what is the estimate of unem- 526 ployment on which is based the estimate of the cost of his Department for 1933–34?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe provision asked for will be sufficient for the volume of unemployment equivalent roughly to that experienced last year. That is not to be regarded as an estimate of future unemployment—which, in fact., I hope will be lower—but merely as the provision which in the unavoidable uncertainty of the present outlook it is prudent to make.
§ Mr. LEVYCan my right hon. Friend say on what change in the unemployment insurance system his estimate of cost was based?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am not sure that I understand the supplementary question. The question on the Paper asked what is the estimate of unemployment on which is based the estimated cost of my Department for 1933–4, and I have told my hon. Friend that it is based on a volume of unemployment equivalent, roughly, to that experienced last year.
§ Mr. LEVYIs the anticipated change going to take place during this present year, and is my right hon. Friend taking that into consideration when answering this question?
§ Mr. LAWSONCan the right hon. Gentleman give a guarantee that the answer is not based upon a new system which is going to cut down the number of recipients of benefit?