§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate, at current levels of benefit, the average weekly costs in social security consequential upon the closure of the Courtaulds factory at Campsie, Londonderry.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is not possible to estimate the average weekly cost in social security benefits consequential upon the closure of the Courtaulds factory at Campsie, Londonderry. It is not known how many of the workers will claim and be entitled to unemployment and/or supplementary benefit, nor how many are married and the number of their dependants. Similarly, the workers' earnings in the relevant contribution year would 393W need to be known to determine the amount, if any, of earnings-related supplement to unemployment benefit payable. However, a recent sample of unemployed claimants receiving benefit revealed that the average payment throughout Northern Ireland was £41.50 and it would be reasonable to assume that each worker who qualified for benefit would on average receive approximately this amount.