§ 26. Mr. Kennedyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the matter raised in his reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye concerning the average per capita cost per annum of unemployment in that constitutuency as calculated by the unemployment unit.
§ Mr. MacGregorI have nothing to add to the letter which I have sent the hon. Member. The estimates of benefit expenditure are consistent with those given to the House on previous occasions, but incluse housing benefit, which can be paid to people in work. The estimates of revenue foregone are so over-simplified as to be meaningless.
37. Mr. TerryLewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will prepare an estimate of the total cost of unemployment to the Exchequer.
§ 44. Mr. Clellandasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will prepare an estimate of the total cost of unemployment to the Exchequer.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe latest estimate of the cost of unemployment and supplementary benefit which will be paid to the unemployed in 1987–88 is £6.05 billion. In addition, it is estimated that £1.3 billion will be paid in housing benefit, a benefit which can continue to be paid if the recipient finds employment. It is not possible to estimate the revenue forgone.