§ Mr. Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures of the average unemployment benefit received per week expressed as a percentage of the average male manual workers' earnings per week for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI have been asked to reply.
The latest comparable figures available are for the first week in May in each year and they are given in the following table.
Average payment of unemployment benefit (including earnings-related supplement) in the first week in May as a percentage of average earnings* Year and Benefit as a percentage of earnings 1970 32.5 1971 29.0 1972 31.1 1973 30.1 1974 29.3 * Estimated average earnings of male adult full-time manual workers in manufacturing and certain other industries based on the Department of Employment's regular October inquiry.