§ 17. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give for the latest convenient stated six monthly period the total amounts of unemployment insurance benefit and National Assistance paid to the registered unemployed; and how these figures compare with two years ago.
§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenterin the six months ended 31st December, 1958, expenditure on unemployment benefit was about £23½ million and on National Assistance payments to registered unemployed about £8½ million. The corresponding figures for 1956 were £9 million and £3¾ million, at the benefit and allowance rates then current.