§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each change since 1979 in the Exchequer subsidy to the national insurance fund and the annual savings made by each change; and what is the cumulative saving to the Exchequer since 1979.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe estimated reduction in payments from the Consolidated Fund to the national insurance fund as a result of changes in the Treasury supplement for the financial years from 1979–80 to 1988–89 is shown in the table.
Year Per cent. Amount Notional amount1 Reduction (£ million) (£ million) (£ million) 1979–80 18 2,343 — — 1980–81 18 2,848 — — 1981–82 14.5 2,433 3,020 587 1982–83 13 2,591 2,890 299 1983–84 13 2,807 — — 1984–85 11 2,597 3,069 472 1985–86 9 2,163 2,644 481 1986–87 9 2,412 — — 1987–88 7 2,135 2,745 610 1988–89 5 1,653 2,314 661 1 This is an assumed figure, had the Treasury supplement remained at the level for the previous year.