HC Deb 03 December 1986 vol 106 c693W
Mr. Boyes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to his Department of the present level of unemployment in the northern region.

Mr. MacGregor

No figures are kept dividing benefit expenditure on the unemployed by regions. For the overall cost to the Exchequer of unemployment and supplementary benefit paid to the unemployed, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 6 November, at columns 516–17.