§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, of 2 February, Official Report, c. 24, he will give the total costs for those receiving benefits at 8 November 1979 and 13 November 1980.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that the information cannot be given in exactly the form requested. Not all expenditure is recorded weekly and the monthly cost has been given. Nor is it possible to distinguish where unemployment and supplementary benefit have been paid together.
Expenditure £ million Unemployment benefit Supplementary-benefit November 1979 57 60 November 1980 111 104