§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of unemployment benefit in the case of 750 adult workers married with three children of school age, where the average earnings were£40 a week, so far as earnings related benefit is concerned and social security payments thereafter.
§ Mr. MeacherThe cost would depend on the circumstances of the families, including, for example, the level of rent and whether the wives were working. However, if the men were all unemployed continuously for a year, the cost of unemployment benefit and supplementary allowances in the year might be about£1 million.