§ Mr. Clayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimate of the total cost to his Department of unemployment in (a) the northern region and (b) Sunderland.
472W
Child Benefit (£per week per child) Single persons tax allowance (£ per annum) Married man's tax allowance (£ per annum) current prices April 1979 prices* current prices April 1979 prices* current prices April 1979 prices* April: 1979† 4.00 4.00 1,165 1,165 1,815 1,815
§ Mr. MacGregorThe overall cost of unemployment and supplementary benefit paid to the unemployed is estimated to be £5.6 billion in 1986–87. In addition, it is estimated that £1.15 billion will be paid in housing benefit, a benefit which can continue to be paid if the recipient finds employment. A regional breakdown of this expenditure would only be available at disproportionate cost. It is not possible to estimate the tax revenue forgone.