§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of unemployed people over a full operational year who would lose unemployment benefit if the length of entitlement were reduced from one year to six months; how many of them would be male or female; how many of those men and women would then be eligible for income support; what the net saving to the Exchequer would be; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtAn estimated total of 240,000 unemployed people at any one point in an operational year would lose unemployment benefit if the length of entitlement were reduced from one year to six months. Of the 170,000 men, 120,000 would be eligible for income support. Of the 70,000 women, 30,000 would be eligible for income 719W support. Caseloads over a full year are not available. The full year net saving to the Exchequer in 1993–94 would be about £210 million.
All figures are based on an assumption of 2.8 million unemployed and the durational distribution of 1993–94. Rates of benefit are also at 1993–94 levels.