Amended Answers to Oral Questions — Question No. 6 to Minister, 18 October

I seek leave to make a personal explanation. I have reviewed the transcript—

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hang on, hang on—you’re seeking leave, and we need to know what it’s about.

Sorry—in relation to an answer in the House last week.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: I’ll put the leave—anyone objecting? No. You may proceed.

Thank you. I have reviewed the transcript of my response to an oral question in the House last week and have seen that I used a figure inconsistently in my response. I said that the unemployment figure was 9.4 percent, and then went on to say that this figure refers to the proportion of people on the benefit in a subsequent answer. This figure does refer to the proportion of working-age people on a main benefit. I understand my use of this figure may have caused confusion to some members of the House and am correcting this on record for absolute clarification.

The House adjourned at 9.57 p.m.