§ Sir Frederic Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current level of unemployment pay.
§ Mr. RossiThe standard weekly rate of unemployment benefit for a single person under pensionable age is £20.65, and this will rise to £22.50 in November; the increase for a wife or other adult dependant is £12.75, rising to £13.90 in November. In addition, a claimant who becomes unemployed now, without having a previous linking spell of unemployment or incapacity, may be entitled to an earnings-related supplement of up to £14 a week, based on his earnings in the tax year 1979–80. The estimated total cost of unemployment benefit in 1981–82 was given in my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams) on 9 July.—[Vol. 8, c.209.]