HC Deb 04 December 1991 vol 200 c160W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) assuming a 10 per cent. interest rate, what would be the yield of introducing national insurance contributions on unearned income at a rate of 9 per cent. for individuals below retirement age, with an exemption of £3,000 in Great Britain for the full year 1991–92;

(2) assuming a 10 per cent. interest rate, what would be the yield of introducing national insurance contributions on unearned income at a rate of 9 per cent. for individuals below retirement age, with an exemption of £3,000 in Northern Ireland for the full year 1991–92.

Mr. Maude

The effect on revenue of a change in the average interest rate would depend on the resulting changes on other components of the income base. An analysis of these effects would require a full macro-economic simulation and could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.