Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) unemployed men have been on (i) unemployment benefit and (ii) supplementary benefit for over six months; how many have been on supplementary benefit for over a year; and what are the corresponding figures for women who are unemployed.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe latest available figures for unemployed beneficiaries, by duration, are those for November-December 1980, and as follows:
into the extra strain high unemployment makes on the work load of general practitioners and hospital out-patient departments.
§ Sir George YoungAs I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 27 April—[Vol. 3, c.346]—the Department is sponsoring research covering various aspects of the relationship between unemployment and health and is considering what further work is required. The work commissioned so far does not deal directly with the effects of unemployment on the work load of general practitioners and hospital out-patient departments. I will write to the hon. Member with details of the work we are doing.