§ Mr. Woodallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the average cost to the Exchequer, in the current financial year 1985–86, of the extra unemployed persons, taking into account the cost of social security benefits and loss of revenue from direct and indirect taxation.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe estimated cost of social security benefits paid in respect of unemployment in 1985–86 is £6,650 million, to an estimated 2,735 thousand beneficiaries—about £2,400 per beneficiary. It is not possible to estimate the tax revenue forgone.