§ 34. Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his leaflet for the Graduated National Insurance Contribution (GR 20A) states that after this issue the general issue of statements will be suspended, due to decimalisation and other considerations.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe issue of periodic statements to those who would normally receive them between 1969 and 1972 has been advanced to 1969 and 1970 to enable my Department's computer facilities to cope with the reprogramming necessary for decimalisation and the proposed new National Superannuation and Social Insurance Scheme. Final statements of account under the present scheme will be issued as soon as possible after the scheme ends.
§ Mr. MoonmanFrom the communications point of view, the ambiguity in that statement is such as to cause parents to turn grey. Would my hon. Friend agree that as a policy decision this must mean a less effective service for the consumer—and here I am referring not to his statement but to what appeared in the circular?
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe reason why the phrase "other considerations" was used was that at the time when the leaflet, GR 20A, was drafted, the National Superannuation and Social Insurance Bill, 1969 had not been presented to Parliament. Secondly, it is the case that people who retired during this period will receive a final statement of their position under the graduated pension scheme and others may request a statement if they wish to have one. So far as the remainder are concerned, their accounts are being sent out in 1969 or 1970 rather than issue being staggered over a number of years.