asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost in a full year of paying an unemployed claimant the higher national insurance rates (a) after six months and (b) after 12 months, and for paying benefit for as long as the claimant is unemployed.

[pursuant to her reply, 6 May 1980, c. 87]: The net cost at current rates of benefit of increasing unemployment benefit to the retirement pension rate, but with no increase in the supplementary benefit rate, would be of the order of (a) £300 million and (b) £250 million respectively.