§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any estimate of the number of employees who work part-time and who because of a combination of dates of pay increase and the annual change in the lower earnings limit only pay national insurance contributions for a part of each year and so never become entitled to national insurance benefits or refund of contributions.
§ Mr. RossiI regret that information on the number of part-time workers with the pattern of earnings described is not available. However, if there is a shortfall of contributions necessary to protect basic pension entitlement, part-time workers may, like anyone else, pay voluntary class 3 contributions.