Mr. WIGNALLasked the Minister of Labour if he will give the total amount of unemployment benefit paid since the signing of the Armistice; the total amount paid this year to 30th June or nearest date; the amount of unemployment benefit now being paid monthly; and the amount of unemployment benefit paid monthly in the Poor Law unions of Great Britain?
Dr. MACNAMARAThe total amount of unemployment benefit (including grants under the Unemployed Workers' Dependants (Temporary Provision) Act, 1921) from the Armistice to the 30th June, 1922, is approximately £88,700,000. The amount paid during the present year to the 30th June, 1922, is approximately £27,000,000. The amount of unemployment benefit paid monthly varies, of course, with the rate of unemployment and with the operation of the "gaps" under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1922. The amount paid during the five weeks ended 30th June was approximately £2,900,000. The amount paid during this period was reduced owing to the operation of the "gap." The foregoing figures exclude the North of Ireland since the 31st December, 1921, and the Irish Free State also since the 31st March, 1922. No figures are available showing the amount of benefit paid in Poor Law authority areas.