§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost to the Exchequer of unemployment benefit in each year since 1979 in Scotland; what is the estimated cost for 1982; and if he will provide a further disaggregation on a regional or district basis.
§ Mr. RossiThe information is as follows:
£ million 1979–80 97.4 1980–81 171.6 Details of expenditure for later periods are not yet available, but if no change were assumed in the pattern of unemployment the estimated figures for 1981–82 and 1982–83 would be about £230 million and £225 million.
It is not possible to disaggregate expenditure on a regional or district basis.