§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list his Department's responsibilities in respect of(a) the national insurance scheme and (b) other aspects of national insurance in (i) 1979 and (ii) at present. [156096]
775W
§ Mr. RookerAs in 1979 the Department remains responsible for matters relating to national insurance benefits and pensions. Responsibility for matters relating to national insurance contributions (apart from policy on the reduced rates and rebates payable in respect of contracted-out pensions) was transferred to the Inland Revenue by the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Act 1999.