§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of extending the proposal to give additional help with housing benefit and council tax benefit during the first four weeks of work for unemployed people returning to work, to include a continued entitlement to income support during that time. [8502]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe cost of extending this proposal to include a continued entitlement to income support—and income-related jobseeker's allowance, where658W appropriate—on the same basis, is estimated to be £150 million in 1996–97 and £170 million in 1997–98. This does not include any behavioural effects such as more people returning to work.