HC Deb 15 May 1986 vol 97 cc522-3W
Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost in (a) Wirral metropolitan borough council and (b) Liverpool city council of payments to the unemployed of each of the following benefits for each year since 1979: (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) supplementary allowances and (iii) housing benefit.

Mr. Major

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will present a table showing the numbers of unemployed people in (a) Wirral metropolitan borough council and (b) Liverpool city council 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(a) Wirral metropolitan borough council and (b) Liverpool city council in November each year since 1979 receiving the following benefits: (i) unemployment benefit only (ii) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefits (iii) supplementary benefit only (iv) no benefit. Similar information is not available for housing benefit.

(a) Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
(thousands)
UB UB+SA SA Nil Total
1979 4.8 0.9 6.9 2.2 14.8
1980 7.6 1.5 8.6 2.7 20.4
*1982 7.1 2.3 16.8 4.4 30.6
1983 6.4 2.0 18.5 3.2 30.1
*1985 6.0 1.9 18.4 3.8 30.1

(b) Liverpool City Council
(thousands)
UB UB+SA SA Nil Total
1979 4.6 1.1 12.4 2.3 20.5
1980 6.6 1.6 14.3 1.8 24.2
*1982 5.0 2.1 20.4 2.8 30.4
1983 4.6 1.9 22.9 2.2 31.6
*1985 4.0 1.4 24.1 2.6 32.1
* Figures for 1981 and 1984 are not available because of industrial action.

Source: Quarterly Count of Unemployed Claimants