Unemployment and Social Security Payments

HC Deb 22 December 1971 vol 828 cc391-2W

Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the present level of unemployment and social security payments paid out each week to Great Britain's unemployed;

(2) what is the present level of unemployment and social security benefits paid out each week to the unemployed in the city of Birmingham.

Mr. Dean

The weekly cost in Great Britain in November, 1971, was about £4.9 million on unemployment benefit and about £2.6 million on supplementary allowances. I will write to the hon.

Mr. Alison

I assume that the hon. Member means payments made to persons on grounds of low income, since, except sometimes in the case of prescription charges, payments are not made to people who are exempt.

The number of payments and amounts were as follows:

Member when figures for the Birmingham area become available.