§ 29. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why an apprentice earning less than £4 a week can now be classified under his regulations as being self-employed and responsible for payment of his or her full National Insurance contributions; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this anomaly.
§ Mr. EnnalsAll insured persons who ordinarily earn £4 or less per week have ceased to be treated as employed persons for national insurance purposes, although they continue to be covered for industrial injury benefit. To have a special provision for apprentices would cause administrative difficulties.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes my hon. Friend recognise that working-class parents are heavily penalised by these regulations and that the case which I put before him, of an apprentice earning considerably less than £4 a week having to pay about £1 a week for his bus fares into the town of Dumbarton, is grossly unfair? Will he look at the matter again in view of the unsatisfactory situation which is arising?
§ Mr. EnnalsMost people affected by this have greatly welcomed the decision taken by the Government, which has relieved them of the obligation to pay the National Insurance stamp if their earnings are less than £4. This has been particularly welcomed by part-timers and mentally and physically handicapped people. It is true, however, that for a small number—I emphasise that it is a very small number—of apprentices who receive this concession there are some problems; and I assure my hon. Friend that I will certainly look at the representations which he has made.