asked the Minister of Labour the total estimated saving to the Unemployment Insurance Fund from the introduction of the means test in October, 1931, up to the latest date?

Mr. STANLEY:

Adequate statistics in this matter are not available, but the total saving due to the means test for the period of operation of the Transitional Payments Scheme (November, 1931, to January, 1935) may be roughly estimated at £45,000,000. No data are available as to the effect of the current provisions regarding resources upon the total expenditure on unemployment allowances.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I got information in April last year that this represented a saving which averaged £20,000,000 a year on the live register; and is not that estimate wholly different from the answer which he has just given, and could he not bring the information right up to date?

Mr. STANLEY:

It has been brought up to date as far as possible. As I have said, there is no adequate data available, and it is largely a matter of conjecture, but what I have given is the official estimate.

Do the figures which the right hon. Gentleman has given include those who had not payment at all—nil determinations?

Mr. STANLEY:

Yes, Sir. It is, as I have said, impossible to give an accurate figure. In this case what I have given is an estimate, and in arriving at this estimate I have taken into consideration those who have had nil determinations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer contradicts the answer which I received in April of last year, and which stated that there would be an average of £20,000,000 a year saved which meant £60,000,000 in three years?

Mr. STANLEY:

The answer which I have just given is the correct one. It is the best estimate that can be made.

Is not this ample justification of the means test?