§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update the figures given by him in reply to the question from the right hon. Member for Doncaster, Official Report, 18 July, column 732; and if there is any reason why these figures are not generally applicable to unemployed persons.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe average cost to public funds of each unemployed mine worker is now estimated to be £6,821 per worker during the first year of unemployment and £5,733 during the second year of unemployment. The estimates are based on the assumption that each mine worker remains unemployed for the whole of the two year period.
These figures are based on the average earnings of mine workers who become unemployed, which are higher than the earnings of average persons who become unemployed. The figures are therefore specific to mine workers.