§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the revenue loss to the Exchequer through the non-taxation of (a) unemployment and (b) sickness benefit.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12th November 1976, Vol. 919, c. 290], gave the following information:
The information on which to make precise calculations is not available, but estimates for 1975–76 based on expenditure on benefits in Great Britain calculated at November 1975 benefit rates are as follows:
£ million Unemployment benefit 160* Sickness benefit 150 * This estimate has been revised downwards from £180 million following revisions to the estimated level of expenditure on unemployment benefit.