§ Mr. D. Footasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why, when, on 15th January, 1962, the maxi- 232W mum income which a person might receive whilst still remaining eligible to claim exception from liability to pay contribution as a self-employed or unemployed person was raised from £156 to £208, National Insurance cards bearing the printed revised figure were not issued until 3rd September, 1962; how many complaints he has received of the issue or renewal of cards which had not been amended in manuscript; and what would have been the cost of printing fresh cards before 15th January, 1962.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThe printing of the 7 million contribution cards for issue at the beginning of March, 1962, had of necessity already been completed before the income limit was raised in January, and the printing of a similar number for issue at the beginning of June was already in process. Considerable publicity was given to the change by way of amendments to the Ministry's leaflets and announcements to the Press, and only one complaint, of which the hon. and learned Member is aware, has come to my notice. It would have cost £5,750 to reprint the March cards, and a corresponding proportion of this sum to reprint those of the June cards already printed. Apart from this consideration, however, it would not have been practicable in the time available before issue to reprint the cards in question.