§ Mr. Concannonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer, in gross terms, of social security, unemployment and related benefit payments made to people living in Northern Ireland during the financial year 1980–81.
§ Mr. John Patten:Social security payments made to people living in Northern Ireland during the financial year 1980ߝ81 totalled £671.2 million. Of this sums, £404.8 million was paid out of the Northern Ireland national insurance fund and £266.4 million was met from moneys voted by Parliament.
Within these totals, payment of unemployment benefit from the national insurance fund amounted to £47.8 million and supplementary benefit payments to the unemployed which were met in full from voted moneys amounted to £58.3 million.