§ 68. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period since June, 1970 the amounts of unemployment and supplementary benefits paid on a weekly or monthly basis to the unemployed and those out of work due to industrial disputes; and how these figures compare with a like period of time immediately preceding June, 1970.
§ Mr. DeanThe average cost of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for unemployed persons during the period from January, 1969, to June,256W 1970, was £3.8 million a week and during the period from July, 1970, to December, 1971, £5.3 million a week. Averaged over the same periods, the cost of payments of supplementary benefit to strikers and their families was £17,000 a week and £61,000 a week, respectively.