§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what part of the Department of Employment's estimated expenditure of £2,520 million in 1982–83 and of £3,021 million in 1983–84 can be directly attributed to the previous levels of unemployment assessed for these two respective years.
§ Mr. AlisonNone of this expenditure is directly attributable to assessments of levels of unemployment. However, such assessments are a factor taken into account when considering expenditure on measures to alleviate unemployment, and certain staffing costs. Expenditure on social security benefits and the cost of administering the benefit schemes is shown in table 2.12 of the Government's Expenditure Plans (White Paper Cmnd. 8789).