§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the cost of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for unemployed persons during the period from January, 1969, to June, 1970, was £3.8 million per week and during the period from July, 1970, until 1971 £5.3 million per week; and to what extent this difference in cost was due to higher benefits and the increased number of unemployed, respectively.
§ Mr. DeanYes. It is estimated that about a quarter of the additional cost was due to higher benefits and about three-quarters to the increase in the number of unemployed.