§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated amount lost to the National Insurance Fund or written off through non-payment of national insurance contributions by employers and the self-employed; what is the estimated total of such payments in arrears by, respectively, six and 12 months at 31st December, 1971; and how many prosecutions have been undertaken in each of the last five years regarding failure to make due payments and with what results.
§ Mr. DeanNo reliable estimate can be made of the amount. About £900,000 was recorded as written-off in 1971–72 but the central records of such amounts are limited to contributions due from employers and exclude small amounts waived locally. Details of the periods for which arrears are due are not available. The number of prosecutions under Section 8(2) of the National Insurance Act, 1965, and the results, are as follows: