HC Deb 03 June 1986 vol 98 cc542-3W
Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost in Burnley of payments to the unemployed in each year since 1979 of (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) supplementary allowances and (iii) housing benefits, respectively.

Mr. Major

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the numbers of unemployed people in Burnley, by entitlement to benefit for each year since 1979 and distinguishing between the following (i) unemployment benefit only, (ii) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit, (iii) supplementary benefit only, (iv) no benefit and (v) housing benefit.

Mr. Major

The following table shows the numbers of unemployed people in Burnley in November each year since 1979 receiving the following benefits (i) unemployment benefit only, (ii) unemployment and supplementary

Burnley
Thousands
Unemployment benefit Unemployment and supplementary benefit Supplementary benefit No benefit Total
1979 1.0 0.2 1.0 0.6 2.8
1980 3.3 0.6 1.7 0.9 6.5
1982* 2.6 0.9 3.9 1.5 8.9
1983 2.2 0.7 4.5 1.3 8.7
1985* 1.8 0.6 4.1 1.4 7.9
* Figures for 1981 and 1984 are not available because of industrial action.

Source: Quarterly count of unemployed claimants.