§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefits payments to those involved in the recent Post Office Corporation strike, and their dependants, together with administrative costs incurred thereby.
§ Sir K. JosephThe latest figures available are that during the dispute a total of £3,024,199 was paid for the dependants of persons involved in the dispute, and that 1,153 discretionary payments totalling £3,412 were made to persons involved in the dispute for their own requirements. In addition 25,690 payments amounting to £180,286 have been made to persons who have returned to work.
I regret that administrative costs are not available.