HC Deb 22 October 1979 vol 972 cc119-20W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will update to May 1979 the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, 22 May, Official Report, columns 114–16;

(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the proportion of registered unemployed who were receiving earnings-

Estimated number of unemployment benefit recipients in thousands Estimated number of unemployment benefit recipients as a percentage of registered unemployed claimants
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Receiving flat-rate unemployment benefit with or without earnings-related supplement Receiving flat-rate unemployment benefit with earnings-related supplement Percentage receiving flat-rate unemployment benefit with or without earnings-related supplement Percentage receiving flat-rate unemployment benefit with earnings-related supplement
492 209 41 17
Sources: For (1) Department of Employment 100 per cent. count, and for (2) 5 per cent. sample of persons unemployment benefit or credits.

offices on 29 November 1978. It shows that about 505,000 unemployed persons were receiving supplementary allowance only, this being about 42 per cent. of all supplementary allowance recipients.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report, for the latest date available, the numbers of unemployed not receiving unemployment benefit but receiving supplementary allowance only; and how many of these unemployed were not receiving unemployment benefit because of (a) contribution deficiency, (b) benefit exhausted, (c) voluntary unemployment and industrial misconduct, (d) title not yet determined and (e) other reasons.

Mrs. Chalker

, pursuant to her reply, 27 July 1979, c. 670]: The latest available information is based on a 5 per cent. sample taken at unemployment benefit offices on 9 November 1978. It shows:

related benefit for the most recent date available.

Mrs. Chalker

[pursuant to her replies, 27 July 1979, c. 674–76]: The latest available information is for 9 November 1978. From that date these statistics have excluded non-claimants and the closest approximation to the information previously presented is given below: