§ Mr. DunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the annual cost in the payment of unemployment benefit for each year since 1989, adjusted for inflation; and what is the predicted figure for the years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99. [36925]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is set out in the tables.
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Benefit expenditure and planned benefit expenditure from 1988–89 to 1998–99 Real terms (1996–97 prices) (£ million) Benefit 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Unemployment benefit 1,565 970 1,065 1,848 1,948 1,777 1,350 1,126 — — — Income support 4,302 3,478 3,599 4,838 5,955 6,171 5,472 5,228 — — — Jobseeker's allowance—contributory based — — — — — — — — 1,011 636 632 Jobseeker's allowance—income based — — — — — — — — 4,670 4,781 4,729 Social fund 57 33 29 34 34 52 46 52 46 45 44 Housing benefit and council tax benefit 1,713 1,490 1,822 2,009 2,421 2,508 2,787 2,870 2,892 2,961 3,079 Total 7,637 5,971 6,515 8,730 10,358 10,508 9,656 9,277 8,618 8,423 8,484