§ Mr. Oramasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will state, for the years 1946, 1957 and 1958 and for an adult male employee, the percentage relationship between the average weekly earnings and the total National Insurance contributions established by the Acts of those years; how these compare with a similar ratio for 156W 1961 taking the proposed increased contributions for an employee contracted out of the graduated scheme; and whether he will state similar ratios for the health contribution taken separately.
§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter:The proportions of men's average earnings represented by the total contributions for National Insurance, including industrial injuries insurance, paid jointly by an employer and an adult male employee at the time the rates were laid down in the relevant Acts of Parliament are shown below, and, separately, the corresponding proportions represented by the contribution to the National Health Service:
— Percentage of average earnings (a) represented by the contributions National Insurance National Health Service National Insurance Act, 1946— Initial rate (payable from 5th July, 1948) 7. 2 0. 7 Permanent rate (payable from 1st October, 1951) 7. 5 National Health Service Contributions Act, 1957 — 0. 7 National Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1957 6. 3 — National Health Service Contributions Act, 1958 — 0. 9 (a) Based on average at date of latest Ministry of Labour enquiry into the earnings of manual workers before the relevant Act was passed. The corresponding percentages of earnings in October, 1960, represented by the contributions payable, or proposed to be payable, for an employee contracted out of the graduated pensions scheme are, for National Insurance, 6. 4 per cent. (from April) and, for the National Health Service, 1. 1 per cent. (from July).