§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, for the latest and most convenient date, the total number of people contributing to the National Insurance Fund and the actual or average amounts of such contributions which go towards the supplementary assistance fund; how much of this fund is financed by taxation; and what is the average contribution paid per taxpayer per week towards this amount.
§ Mr. DeanThere are approximately 25 million employed, self-employed and non-employed persons contributing to the National Insurance Fund. Corporate bodies, as well as individuals, contribute as employers. Expenditure on supplementary benefit, which was £688 million in 1972–73, is met exclusively out of the Consolidated Fund and not out of the National Insurance Fund.