§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was (a) the gross and (b) the net cost of the job release scheme in 1981–82; and what are the estimated figures for 1982–83.
§ Mr. AlisonThe provisional outturn for expenditure on job release allowances in 1981–82 is £135 million gross. The estimated figure for 1982–83 is £244 million gross. The net cost is approximately half the gross cost.