asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the administration costs of unemployment payments rose by £7 million in 1986 over 1985, and by £9 million in 1985 over 1984, whereas it fell by £1 million in the previous year.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Payments Administration Costs.
163.
The administration costs of the Department are not broken down in such a way as to enable the costs associated with a particular programme to be identified.
The variations referred to in the question relate to the overall administration costs of the Department and not to those relating solely to unemployment payments.
A reduction in overall administration costs in 1984 over 1983 arose because of a once-off payment in 1983 of arrears of £8 million approximately to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in respect of postal and agency charges for previous years. But for that payment, 1984 would have shown an increase of £7 million approximately over 1983. The increases in administration costs in one year over the immediately prior year arise largely because of increases in the Department's pay bill, postal and agency charges and other administration charges such as travelling and incidental expenses, office machinery and consultancy services.