§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current weekly cost of the benefits paid to the unemployed and those on short-time working, including unemployment benefit, redundancy payments, social security allowances, supplementary benefit, family income supplement, and other benefits.
§ Mr. Dean:It is estimated that the current weekly expenditure on unemployment benefit and supplementary allowances to the unemployed is £5¼ million and £3¼ million, respectively. As regards other social security benefits I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 1st December, 1971, and as regards payments from the Redundancy 40W Fund to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment gave him today.—[Vol. 827, c. 133–4.]