§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the gross cost of extending flat rate unemployment benefit from 12 to 24 months; what would be the savings on supplementary benefit; and how many unemployed people would be taken off supplementary benefits as a result.
§ Mr. ChalkerAssuming that the numbers unemployed, excluding school leavers, adult students and those temporarily stopped, averaged 1.8 million over the period in question, it is estimated that the additional cost of unemployment benefit would be about £280 million a year. There would be a saving of about £125 million on supplementary benefit; and some 33,000 claimants would be taken off supplementary benefit.