HL Deb 13 May 1992 vol 537 c6WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can estimate the net cost of unemployment to public funds, including loss of receipts from Income Tax, VAT and National Insurance.

Viscount Ullswater

The latest available estimate of gross benefit payments to the unemployed in 1991/92 is £7.36 billion. The cost of administering unemployment benefit in 1990–91, the latest year for which figures are available, was £182 million for the same period. Administration costs for other benefits paid to the unemployed cannot be separately identified. Estimates of tax revenues foregone are not available.