§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the average weekly amount of benefit, including supplementary benefit, paid to people registering for work during the months of July, August and September, 1971, was £5.6 million; what was the figure for October, 1971; and how these figures compare with July, August, September and October, 1969 and 1970.
§ Sir K. JosephYes. The figure for October, 1971 was £6.9 million, after an increase in rates coming into effect in late September. The comparable figures for July-October, 1969 and for 1970 were £3.4 million and £4 million respectively.