§ Mr. Parryasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the anual net cost to the Exchequer of an unemployed person.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe latest estimate of the cost of unemployment and supplementary benefit paid to the
578W
£ million gross contributions less receipts other than refunds refunds-abatements1 unpaid refund abatement outstanding2 1980 804 799 — 1981 1,090 1,011 8 1982 1,624 807 — 1983 1,454 589 — 1984 1,184 605 61 1985 2,035 31,262 439 1986 n/a 41,125 5— 1This column shows refunds and abatements against the year to which they relate, not the year in which they are paid. Figures for 1984 onwards are abatements. 2Refunds and abatements should be paid a year in arrears. Figures in this column are the amounts outstanding at the end of the year in which they should have been paid. 3This figure may need to be revised in due course. 4This is the 1,633 mecu abatement in the 1987 draft budget. It will need to be revised upwards in due course. 5At 31 December 1986 there was no unpaid refund or abatement outstanding, but any correction to the abatement in respect of 1985 would still enter the accounts. unemployed in 1986–87 is £6.16 billion, or about £2,150 per head. In addition, it is estimated that £1.26 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.