§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Labour the total amount paid in unemployment assistance since the Order in Council of 1931 and the difference between that amount and the sum which would have been paid in unemployment benefit if the means test had not been in operation?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe total expenditure (excluding the cost of administration) out of the unemployment fund to 31st March, 1936, on transitional payments under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance (National Economy) (No. 2) Order, 1931, and on unemployment allowances is approximately £198,000,000. With regard to the saving due to the means test an estimate is possible only for the period of the operation of the Transitional Payments Scheme (November, 1931 to January, 1935) and in this connection I would refer to the reply given by my predecessor to the hon. Member on 7th May, 1935, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.