§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the aggregate cost to public funds of supplementary benefit paid to those involved in industrial disputes during the 272W first five months of 1974, and in respect of their dependants, expressed at an annual rate; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe total cost during the first five months of 1974 was £4,351,557. There are no valid assumptions on which to base an expression of this amount as an annual rate. The following are the comparable totals for the last 10 years:
Year £ 1964 34,930 1965 25,026 1966 20,322 1967 44,382 1968 149,224 1969 205,127 1970 440,721 1971 3,931,302 1972 5,985,092 1973 323,686