asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the cost of unemployment and social security benefits arising out of unemployment in 1974;(2) what is the estimated present cost in terms of unemployment and social security benefits of having 1 million persons unemployed for one year.
It is estimated that in the year ended 31st March 1975 the cost of unemployment benefit and of supplementary allowances paid to unemployed persons was £435 million. At the rates of benefit and allowances which came into force this month, the cost for 1 million unemployed for a year would be about £840 million.The current standard weekly rate of flat rate unemployment benefit is £9·80. During the year ended 31st March 1975 the rate was £7·35 until the week beginning 22nd July 1974 and £8·60 thereafter.