§ Mr. L. Smithasked the Minister of Labour what has been the expenditure in respect of the agricultural section of the unemployment insurance scheme since its inception on administration and benefit, respectively; how much of the expenditure on administration is due to initial 2099W operations and how much is recurrent; and what proportion of the contribution revenue per head is absorbed by these administrative costs?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe total expenditure up to 5th February, 1938, charged to the Agricultural Account of the Unemployment Fund in respect of benefit (65 weeks) and administration (92 weeks) was £630,000 and £350,000, respectively. The Agricultural Scheme is administered jointly with the General Scheme of Unemployment Insurance; there is no separation of staff, offices, etc., as between the two Schemes and separate records of administrative costs have not been maintained. It is, therefore, not practicable to identify the cost of the initial operations in setting up the Agricultural Scheme. The cost of administering the Scheme is met by a charge on the Agricultural Account, calculated on the basis of one-eighth of the contribution revenue of that account. This method is in accordance with the recommendations of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee in their report on the insurance against unemployment of persons employed
—— Sutton-in-Ashfield. Mansfield. Men. Women. Men. Women. 13th September, 1937: Wholly unemployed … … 32 34 13 11 Temporarily stopped … … 46 83 44 54 17th January, 1938: … … Wholly unemployed … … 42 66 9 16 Temporarily stopped … … 74 159 56 79