§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on when he now expects to restore the 5 per cent. to unemployment benefit which was deducted in lieu of taxation of the benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonWe considered the possibility of restoring the abatement when the benefit was brought into tax in July but concluded that we could not do so this year. We are, of course, increasing unemployment benefit next month by 11 per cent., which includes 2 per cent. to make up the shortfall in last year's uprating. We are keeping the question of the abatement under review.