§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unemployed adult male and females of working age have exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefit; what is his estimate of the gross cost of removing the time limit in the case of(a) males and (b) females; and what would be the saving in each case in (i) other benefits and (ii) increased tax.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardIn February 1989 there were approximately 542,000 men and 107,000 women claiming benefit who had exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefit. The table sets out the estimated costs and benefit savings of removing the time limits.
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Benefit costs and savings of removing unemployment benefit duration limit Cost to UB (£ million) Savings on other benefits (£ million) Men 1,100 800 Women 200 100 Notes:
1. This table assumes current levels of unemployment; costs and savings are calculated at 1989–90 benefit levels.
2. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the effect on tax receipts of such a change.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table on the same basis as that given in the written answer dated 20 March 1987 showing the total benefits paid out to the unemployed in 1987–88, 1988–89 and his forecast for 1989–90, together with payments from the redundancy fund, the percentage both represent of gross domestic product and the revenue from North sea oil.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI will write to the hon. Member.