§ 7. Mr. Longdenasked the Minister of Social Security whether, in order to relate unemployment and sickness benefits to earnings, she intends also to relate contributions to earnings.
§ Miss HerbisonEarnings-related supplements to unemployment and sickness benefits are already financed from earnings-related contributions. The National Insurance contribution arrangements as a whole are being studied as part of the Government's comprehensive review of the social security scheme.
§ Mr. LongdenI thank the Minister for that reply. It is now as long ago as 22nd November, 1965, when she said that she hoped it would not be very long before she could tell us what the new scheme is. Will she see that contributions are related to benefits, because otherwise the insurance principle will become weaker than it now is?
§ Miss HerbisonI can give the assurance to the hon. Member that when we finally consider what the contributions should be we shall give very serious thought to making them earnings-related.