§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social services (1) what is the total amount now being paid out in unemployment benefit in the Walsall travel-to-work area; and what was the amount in May 1979;
(2) what is the total sum now being paid in unemployment benefit for the United Kingdom; and what was the sum for May 1979.
(3) what is the total sum now being paid in unemployment benefit for the West Midlands region; and what was the sum for May 1979.
§ Mrs. ChalkerExpenditure on unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom in August 1980, the latest month For which information is available, was £84 million; and expenditure in May 1979 was £53 million Monthly expenditure is, however, subject to fluctuations, caused to some extent by the number of pay days in a month; and the records of expenditure in May 1979 were affected by industrial action at a computer installation.
I regret that comparable information for Walsall and the West Midlands is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.