§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will estimate the net cost of unemployment to public funds, including loss of income tax, national insurance and VAT.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Viscount Ullswater)The latest available estimate of gross benefit payments to the unemployed in 1991–92 is £5,590 million. The cost of administering unemployment benefit in 1989/90, the latest year for which figures are available, was £176 million. Administration costs for other benefits paid to the unemployed cannot be separately identified. Estimates of tax revenue foregone are not available.