§ 64. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that young men at teacher-training colleges are obliged to pay their National Insurance contributions at the rate of 13s. a week throughout their three years' course of training, and that, unlike apprentices and others who are required to pay such contributions during their training because they are in receipt of earnings, students receive no pay; and if 122W he will take steps to make credit grants to such non-earning students for the period of their training.
§ Mrs. ThatcherYoung men and women at teacher-training colleges, like all those in full-time education, training or unpaid apprenticeship, are not obliged to pay National Insurance contributions as non-employed persons during their courses; they are credited with contributions up to the age of 18 and may thereafter pay voluntarily. To credit students over the age of 18 with contributions would mean subsidising the future benefits of such students out of contributions compulsorily paid by contributors generally.