HC Deb 01 February 1965 vol 705 cc704-6
15. Dame Joan Vickers

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what sum of money will have been contributed by full-time students at universities and training colleges when the National Insurance rates are raised.

Mr. Pentland

Full-time students at universities and training colleges are not required to pay National Insurance contributions except when working for an employer, for example during vacations.

Dame Joan Vickers

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that many students, particularly those going into the teaching profession, have been asked to contribute as they will forfeit benefits—for instance, women will forfeit maternity benefits—if they do not complete their contributions at the end of their training?

Mr. Pentland

Yes, but the hon. Lady will be aware that it is, of course, voluntary for students to pay contributions while for the rest of the community it is compulsory to pay from the age of 16. I am, of course, aware of certain difficulties with which students have to contend, but I think that if they are looked at very closely it will be found that many special concessions have been given to students over the years.

Dame Irene Ward

As this does really involve a quite complicated issue and does seem to bear hardly occasionally on some of the students concerned, would it not perhaps be better in the interests of the students themselves if, when grants are paid to students on attendance at universities and training colleges, arrangements were made for contributions to be deducted and for them to be placed on cards, so that when the students are trained they will not be faced with a backlog of contributions which they might be called upon to pay? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a matter which concerns university organisations and the National Union of Students very much indeed?

Mr. Pentland

That is another question, and, of course, as the hon. Lady is aware, it involves other Ministries.

Dame Patricia Hornsby-Smith

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether there is not a period given over which these contributions can be back paid; because is it not fully accepted that those who have to work at the age of 16 have to contribute and university students can generally look to earning higher salaries than those who start work at 15 or 16? Is there not, as I have said, a term of years in which they can make their contributions? Can he tell us what it is?

Mr. Pentland

I agree with the sentiments expressed by the right hon. Lady, and the period to which she refers is six years.

23. Dr. David Kerr

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will consider relieving students pursuing whole-time courses of education from the obligation of paying full National Insurance contributions out of their grant income.

Mr. Pentland

Students pursuing whole-time courses of education are not in fact required to pay National Insurance contributions except when working for an employer, for example during vacations.

Dr. Kerr

Is my hon. Friend aware that these regulations were framed on the advice of the National Insurance Advisory Committee in a report dated June 1948? Is he further aware that since then the number of married students and students producing children has risen considerably, and that obligations do not necessarily arise from Statutes but sometimes from the moral obligation to maintain a family? May we have an assurance that this will be looked at again at an early stage?

Mr. Pentland

Yes, Sir. However, my hon. Friend is not quite right. The present regulations are in accordance with the recommendations of the National Insurance Advisory Committee which has considered this question on three occasions—in 1948, in 1953, and in 1956. On each occasion the Committee came to the conclusion that it would be unfair to the general body of contributors, the vast majority of whom—as I said in reply to a previous Question—contribute from the age of 16, if further concessions were made.

Dame Patricia Hornsby-Smith

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is all the more important for married students to obtain insurance cover if they have families to look after?

Mr. Pentland

I agree, and, as the right hon. Lady is aware, they are encouraged to do just that.