§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current cost per week of benefits of all kinds, including supplementary benefit, paid to the unemployed and their dependents.
§ Mr. NewtonThe estimated expenditure during the week ending 4 March 1983 on benefits paid as a direct consequence of unemployment—unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit—was some £90 million. Unemployed persons may also receive other benefits, or receive supplementary benefit for other reasons, but the cost of such payments cannot be identified separately.