§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated numbers of employees in respect of whom employers will qualify for national insurance contribution rebates under clause 23 of the Jobseekers Bill in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; what is the estimated resulting reduction in the number of unemployed people receiving a jobseeker"s allowance; and what are the estimated resulting reductions in contribution revenue and benefit expenditure. [15135]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotIt is estimated that in 1996–97 employers will qualify for rebates under clause 23 of the Jobseekers Bill in respect of some 120,000 employees. It is expected that employers will reclaim some £45 million from their national insurance payments. The figures for 1997–98 are expected to be broadly the same.
It is not possible to estimate the likely effects of the measures at this stage, but unemployment might be cut ultimately by up to 100,000 by all the work incentive measures, including the national insurance contribution rebate, announced by the Chancellor in the November 1994 Budget.