§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer for the month of November of paying earnings related and unemployment benefit to the 160,000 building workers who are at present out of work.
§ Mr. Brian O'MalleyUnemployment benefit expenditure is not recorded by industry. However, assuming that the proportions of unemployed building workers who are entitled to unemployment benefit or supplementary benefit are representative of the unemployed register as a whole, it is estimated that 160,000 men registered as unemployed throughout November would have received about £7 million in flat-rate unemployment benefit and earnings-related supplement, and a further £5 million in supplementary allowances.