§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the current annual figures for money spent from public funds on people(a) unemployed for six months, (b) unemployed for between six months and 12 months, (c) unemployed for between one year and two years, (d) unemployed between two years and three years and (e) unemployed between three years and four years; and what are the numbers of unemployed people in these five groups.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information requested on expenditure is not available in the form requested. The benefit costs of those in the five groups cannot be separated from the planned total expenditure on unemployed people, which for the year April 1994 to April 1995 is £10.11 billion1. The numbers of unemployed claimants is in the table2.
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Duration of current spell of unemployment Thousands Numbers of unemployed claimants Six months or less 1,057 Over six months and up to 12 months 538 Over 12 months and up to two years 437 Over two years and up to three years 228 Over three years and up to four years 141 Source: Half-yearly analysis of Unemployed Claimants—May 1994. Notes: 1 The information is taken from table 5 of the 1994 departmental annual report, a copy of which is in the Library. Expenditure for unemployment benefits is made up of unemployment benefit and principal income-related benefits and payments from the social fund to unemployed people and their families. 2 Figures are based on 5 per cent. sample. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. Figures are for a point in time.