Viscount SAN DONasked the Minister of Labour how many of those included in the latest unemployment returns are recorded consequent on the alterations made by the Minister of Labour in the late Government; and how much money these additions have cost?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIn October last, it was estimated that the number of persons who were added to the registers of Employment Exchanges by reason of the legislative changes consequent upon the passing of the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1st August, 1924, was about 70,000. No estimate has since been made, but there seems no reason for supposing that the figures at the present time are very different. On the basis of that estimate the amount of unemployment benefit payable would be about £50,000 per week.