§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the state of the National Insurance Fund at the beginning and end of 1978–79; and what are his equivalent estimates if the fund is divided into two separate parts, one for contracted-out contributions and benefits and the other for contracted-in contributions and benefits.
§ Mr. OrmeOn the basis of the provisional accounts of the National Insurance Fund for 1967–77 and the estimates for 1977–78 and 1978–79 in the Government Actuary's Report on the 1978–79 contribution rates (Cmnd. 7036), the balance of the fund will reduce from £3,795 million at the beginning of 1978–79 to £3,770 million at the end. I am writing to my hon. Friend on the second part of his Question.