§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the planned increased public expenditure for 1976–77 is due to anticipated increases in unemployment.
§ Mr. OrmeCmnd. 6393, Table 2.12, shows that, compared with 1975–76, the Government have provided for expenditure on national insurance unemployment benefit in 1976–77 to be increased by £132 million. In addition a substantial proportion of the projected £69 million increase in expenditure on supplementary allowances for 1976–77 over 1975–76 is accounted for by assuming a higher level 85W of unemployment. As the footnote to Table 2.12 points out, the figures for unemployment benefit in future years represent a working assumption and not a forecast of unemployment levels.