asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those who qualified for the earnings-related supplement for unemployment benefit in fact received it in the last year for which figures are available.

My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to the provision whereby any earnings-related supplement payable is reduced or extinguished if the total unemployment benefit due would be more than 85 per cent. of the claimant's reckonable weekly earnings. On 10 May 1979, the latest date for which figures are available, the position was as follows:

Total unemployed claimants satisfying conditions for earnings-related supplement (ERS)	207,100
ERS not affected by the benefit ceiling	164,800
ERS reduced by benefit ceiling	11,500
ERS eliminated by benefit ceiling	30,700

More detailed information is contained in table 9 of the half yearly summary of unemployment benefit statistics, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of earnings-related supplement for unemployment benefit had been in receipt of it during earlier periods of unemployment.

Information on this point is not readily available, and it will take some time to collect. I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what account is being taken of national insurance contributions already paid in the Government's policy on the abolition of the earnings-related supplement to unemployment benefits.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.