§ Sir Ian GilmourTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) of 26 January,Official Report, columns 710–11, if he will re-calculate the figures to show the cumulative effects on public expenditure of the changes to national insurance benefits since 1981–82.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is not possible to carry out the recalculation requested other than at disproportionate cost. Many artificial assumptions would need to be made, rendering any answer speculative, and much of the underlying data could be obtained only by extensive and costly investigation.