31. Mr. J. Hillasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much it would cost weekly, in aggregate, given the current level of unemployment, to raise the present unemployment benefit to the current average weekly earnings of all adult workers.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonOn the figure for April, 1962, which is the latest available, the average weekly earnings of adult male workers were 312s. 10d. If the standard rate of benefit were raised to this level, and other rates proportionately, the total cost would be over £6½ million a week.