§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefit paid to those involved in the general strike in Ulster, and in respect of their dependants, respectively; what was the total number of individual claims received; and how this latter total compares with the numbers in employment in the Province at the latest count.
§ Mr. MoyleDuring the recent stoppage of work in Northern Ireland payment of the normal social benefits was impracticable. An emergency benefit, at the normal standard rate of unemployment benefit with additions for dependants, was paid. Claims from about 200,000 people out of the total working population of about 579,000 were met. The cost is estimated to be about £5 million.