National Insurance (Hansard, 19 January 1993)

§ Mr. Dewar
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing(a) the level of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions as a percentage of average earnings in 1978–79, 1992–93 and his projection for 1993–94, (b) the number of additional people with earnings above the national insurance contribution ceiling in 1992–93 and 1993–94 as a result of increases in the upper earnings limit by the level of prices rather than average earnings since 1978–79 and (c) the effect on national insurance revenues in 1992–93 and 1993–94 of increases in the upper earnings limit by the level of prices rather than average earnings since 1978–79.

§ Miss Widdecombe
The information requested is in the table.
increases in the lower earnings limit by the level of prices rather than average earnings since 1978–79 and (c) the effect on national insurance revenues in 1992–93 and 1993–94 of increases in the lower earnings limit by the level of prices rather than average earnings since 1978–79.

§ Miss Widdecombe
The information requested is in the table.
209W

¹Average weekly earnings (adults) £ Weekly lower earnings limit (LEL) £ Lower earnings limit (LEL) as a percentage of average earnings Per cent. ³Estimated number of additional contributors Million ⁴Estimated effect on National Insurance revenues £ billion

April

1978 78.60 17.50 22.3 — —

1992 304.60 54.00 17.7 0.6 +0.5

1993 ²320.00 56.00 17.5 0.6 +0.7

¹ Average weekly full-time earnings of all adults. Source: New Earnings Survey.

² The estimated additional number of people who pay National Insurance contributions and gain potential entitlement to contributory benefits as a result of increases in the lower earnings limit since 1978–79 by the level of prices rather than earnings.

³ The estimated effect on National Insurance revenue as a result of increases in the lower earnings limit since 1978–79 by the level of prices rather than earnings. Includes effects on both employers' and employees' National Insurance contributions, but does not take account of the extra costs of contributory benefits which people are obtaining for as little as £1.12 a week.

⁴ Assumes a rise in earnings of 5 per cent., rounded to the nearest £.

	¹Average weekly earnings (adults) £	Weekly lower earnings limit (LEL) £	Lower earnings limit (LEL) as a percentage of average earnings Per cent.	³Estimated number of additional contributors Million	⁴Estimated effect on National Insurance revenues £ billion
April
1978	78.60	17.50	22.3	—	—
1992	304.60	54.00	17.7	0.6	+0.5
1993	²320.00	56.00	17.5	0.6	+0.7
¹ Average weekly full-time earnings of all adults. Source: New Earnings Survey.
² The estimated additional number of people who pay National Insurance contributions and gain potential entitlement to contributory benefits as a result of increases in the lower earnings limit since 1978–79 by the level of prices rather than earnings.
³ The estimated effect on National Insurance revenue as a result of increases in the lower earnings limit since 1978–79 by the level of prices rather than earnings. Includes effects on both employers' and employees' National Insurance contributions, but does not take account of the extra costs of contributory benefits which people are obtaining for as little as £1.12 a week.
⁴ Assumes a rise in earnings of 5 per cent., rounded to the nearest £.