§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will give for the latest stated date the total number of unemployed and the weekly or annual amounts of money paid to those workers and their dependants; and to what extent the Government's proposed cuts in expenditure will reduce or increase these payments;
(2) to what extent there would be an annual or weekly saving in Government expenditure paid in unemployment benefits, supplementary and other payments if 608W the unemployment figure were reduced by 50 per cent.; and what action he will take to achieve this.
§ Mr. OrmeAt 8th July 1976 the number of registered unemployed in Great Britain was 1,402,470. One monthly figure of unemployment at a date, however, is not a reliable guide to weekly or annual expenditure on benefits for the unemployed. On the assumptions set out in the latest Government Actuary's Report (Cmnd. 6478) expenditure on unemployment benefit and supplementary allowance in respect of unemployment in the year 1976–77 is estimated at £1,330 million. No other payments are conditional on unemployment. The effect on benefits of a rise or fall in unemployment will depend on the family circumstances, contribution record and duration of unemployment of those joining or leaving the register. The initial impact of the cuts in public expenditure announced on 22nd July will be to slow the fall in unemployment with consequent effect on benefit expenditure; but their overall effect will be to improve the prospects for sustained full employment.