HC Deb 16 June 1976 vol 913 cc194-5W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what level of unemployment for each of the next three years estimates for national insurance are now based.

Mr. Orme

The most recent forward estimates of national insurance expenditure were set out in the Government Actuary's Report on the draft Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 1976 (Cmnd 6478). Those estimates were based on a Government assumption, for purposes of illustration, that the number of unemployed, excluding school leavers and adult students, would average 1,300,000 in 1976–77. No comparable estimates are available in respect of 1977–78 and later years.