30 and 31. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) if he will give an assurance that when the 16W question of increased contributions to the National Insurance Fund to cover additional commitments is under consideration it will be borne in mind that those not liable to Income Tax are already paying more for social service benefits than those who get tax reliefs on contributions and that no further increases in contributions shall be imposed on the lower income groups;
(2) if he is aware that people getting Income Tax reliefs today in respect of insurance contributions are not ipso facto those who pay Income Tax on benefits when they become due; and if he will therefore make some adjustment to help the lower income groups.
§ Mr. MarplesIn my right hon. Friend's view it is not possible, within the general framework of the existing scheme, to provide for varying National Insurance contributions as suggested by my hon. Friend.