HL Deb 13 March 1996 vol 570 cc66-7WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to paragraph 16 of the Fifth Report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Social Security, whether their plans for "removing inactive accounts from the National Insurance database" will safeguard the rights and contribution records of British subjects working abroad, and if so, how.

The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)

The administration of the National Insurance scheme is the responsibility of Mrs. Faith Boardman, the Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to the noble Lord.

Letter to Earl Russell from the Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, Mrs. Faith Boardman, dated 12th March 1996.

As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency and the National Insurance (NI) scheme.

I have been asked to reply to your question about removing inactive NI accounts and the safeguards in place to protect the rights and contribution records of British subjects working abroad.

I should first of all confirm that with regard to the removal of "inactive NI numbers" the agency adheres to strict criteria for declaring any account held on the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) database redundant.

The initial criteria for declaring an account redundant are:-

  1. (i) the contributor should be deceased for a minimum of six years; or
  2. (ii) the contributor should be a minimum of 11 years past the minimum age of retirement—e.g. 71 for a female and 76 for a male.

In the context of those contributors who may be working abroad there are additional safeguards which inhibit redundancy. Where the basic criterion at (i) applies but there is an "abroad" notation on any deceased male or female account where the date of death is not known, these accounts are not declared redundant.

Similarly, where the criterion at (ii) above applies but an "abroad" or "migrant worker" notation is held on a male or female account, these accounts are not declared redundant.

I should also point out that an audit trail is maintained to allow for identification of any redundant account and the reason for redundancy. In addition all accounts declared redundant are archived and can be accessed or reconstructed and reinstated on the NIRS database if necessary.

I hope this reply proves helpful. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.