§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of the current cost of funding the jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement. [17731]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe estimated programme cost of jobseeker's allowance in 1996–97 is £5,681 million.
The departmental report for 1997–98, which is due to be published later this month, will contain new estimates of the cost of jobseeker's allowance.
Source: Table 1A, Departmental report 1996–97.