§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much in national insurance contributions he estimates has not been collected by his Department since 1975 from employers of hotel and catering workers payable on 466W the service charges they received; what steps he is taking to collect these unpaid contributions; what steps he is taking to reimburse workers who lost social security and other benefits as a result; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo reliable estimate can be made of the amount of national insurance contributions not collected on payments to employees derived from service charges since 1975. Inspectors of the Department will continue to deal with the matter of unpaid contributions when they visit hotels and catering establishments in the course of their normal duties, and as and when such amounts come to their notice in any other way. The action to be taken to correct benefit entitlement was explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brown hills (Mr. Shepherd) on 7 August.—[Vol. 990, c.285–86.]