§ 37. Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid out, over the latest available 12-month period, in the various employment-related benefits for which the self-employed are not eligible; and what proportion this represented of the total sum paid in employment-related benefits to employees.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIn 1973–74, £424 million was paid out of the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries Funds on unemployment benefit, earnings-related supplement and sickness benefit, earnings-related allowance with widow's benefit, graduated retirement benefit and industrial injuries benefits. The details are set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Mr. Cunningham) on 22nd January.—[Vol. 884, c.394–6.] The total amount paid out by way of benefit from 80W those funds in that year was £3,990 million, but it is not possible to say how much of this was paid to employees.