HC Deb 03 March 1977 vol 927 cc298-9W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many extra staff would be needed if his Department acted as if it were employers for PAYE purposes during periods of payment of unemployment benefit.

Mr. Golding

In the absence of detailed proposals—including, for example, how the scheme might affect people receiving supplementary benefit as unemployed—no reliable staffing estimates can be made. Other factors that would influence the staff cost are the future levels of unemployment and the rate of progress with the scheme for computerisation of the payment of unemployment benefit.