HC Deb 03 December 1971 vol 827 cc193-4W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State or Social Services if he has received a letter from Mr. L. Reeves-Smith, National Secretary of the National Grocers' Federation on the White Paper Strategy for Pensions; and what reply he has sent.

Sir K. Joseph

Mr. Reeves-Smith wrote about the proposals for the self-employed. He has been informed that, since it is impracticable to charge the self-employed a fully earnings-related contribution under the new scheme on the same basis as employed persons would pay, it is proposed that the self-employed should pay to the basic scheme a flat-rate contribution plus an earnings-related contribution on any Schedule D earnings between £1,000 and the same upper earnings limit as will apply to employed persons. It is not proposed that self-employed people should contribute to the reserve scheme.