§ 24. Mr. Haselhurstasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 9 February, Official Report, c. 265, if he will detail the additional net costs which he considers would be incurred if the Government employed unemployed individuals at the same level of earnings as the average Exchequer cost of unemployment per person.
§ Mr. BrittanThe additional net cost will include the administrative, supervisory, and materials costs involved in any public sector employment programme, and the employers' national insurance contributions and surcharge. On assumptions similar to those given in February's economic progress report article, and taking into account the points mentioned above, the net cost to the Exchequer employing unemployed individuals at the level of earnings specified in the question—£3,400—would be in the region of £2,500.
§ 32. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) Official Report 9 February, c. 265, on the cost to the Exchequer of unemployment, if he is able to provide separate figures for males and for females.
§ Mr. BrittanFebruary's economic progress report gave estimates of the cost to the Exchequer of an average increase in registered unemployment. I regret, however, that I cannot provide separate estimates for males and females without making further assumptions on their characteristics, and incurring disproportionate cost.