§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost to the Government of keeping a single under 25-year-old on social security for one calendar year.
§ Mr. LyellIf a single under 25-year-old is unemployed the benefit expenditure for a year at current rates is as follows. If he is entitled to unemployment benefit, he receives £1,601.60 a year. If not, he may receive supplementary benefit either as a householder, at a cost of £1,549.60 or as a non-householder at a cost of £1,240.20 per year, though the supplementary benefit costs would be lower if the claimant had other resources. Householders will normally also be entitled to housing benefit at a rate dependent upon their individual circumstances.