§ Sir John Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the total weekly payment of unemployment benefit which would arise from the closure of Barry Staines Factory in Newburgh.
§ Mr. Orme, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th February 1978; Vol. 944, c. 24] gave the following information:
On the basis that all of the employees at the Barry Staines Factory, other than married women, claimed and were entitled to unemployment benefit, and that the amounts paid to men and to single women were the average weekly rates payable to these two categories in May 1977, the weekly payment of unemployment benefit, including earnings-related supplement, arising from the closure of the factory would be about £7,000.
Information about the payments of benefit actually made to these employees will be available towards the end of March and I will write to the hon. Gentleman when it is received.