§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the costs, to the latest available date, of unemployment benefit paid in the North-West Region of England, in the current year; and what were the figures for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MeacherThe estimated expenditure on unemployment benefit in the North-Western Region of England in the first half of 1975–76 and in each of the previous five years is as follows:
Year £ million 1975–76 (1st half) 31 1974–75 35 1973–74 29 1972–73 36 1971–72 38 1970–71 21
§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is
730W
§ Mr. Barry JonesThe information is as follows:
her estimate of the number of men between the ages of 60 and 65 years in possession of a non-State pension drawing unemployment pay, and the annual cost thereof.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI regret that I cannot add to the information given in my reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 16th December 1975.—[Vol. 902, c.578.]
§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will declare a moratorium on the payment of non-employed stamps by men of age 60 to 65 years who agree to forfeit the alternative of attending the employment exchange and drawing unemployment pay; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe position is that, under the Social Security Act 1975, the payment of Class 3 (non-employed) contributions has been made entirely voluntary.