Miss Wardasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, in view of the fact that it is estimated that contributions to the National Insurance Fund now show a reduction in the proportion of contributions to the wage packet, he will produce comparable figures in the case of self-employed persons to earnings.
§ Mr. MarplesI regret that the statistics about earnings do not include self-employed persons.
Miss Wardasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what extent the proposed increased contributions from employees, self-employed, and non-employed could be reduced if £34 million being tax relief in respect of contributions was transferred from the Treasury to the National Insurance Fund and applied in reduction of contributions equally over all groups.
§ Mr. MarplesIf an extra £34 million a year were made available by the Exchequer for the Fund it would be possible to reduce the total contribution payable for each class of insured person by about 8d.