§ Mr. HainTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the sensitivity of his public sector borrowing requirement forecast for 1993–94 to an increase of unemployment of(a) 0.3 million, (b) 0.5 million and (c) 0.7 million.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 23 November 1992]: The effect of an increase in unemployment on the public sector borrowing requirement depends on a large number of factors and assumptions, and cannot be reliably estimated. Estimates of the direct effect on expenditure on unemployment benefit, income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit are set out in figure 25 of DSS departmental report, Cm 1914.