§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances his Department is notifying individuals that their national insurance contributions for the last year are insufficient and is asking them to make good the deficiency; if he is aware that there are cases in which it is impossible for these people to purchase stamps to the precise amount of the deficiency; and if he will make a statement on this and on the amount of excess contribution which is thus being collected.
§ Mr. DeanMy Department sends a notice of the deficiency to any insured person for whom a flat-rate contribution is not recorded as paid or credited for every week of the contribution year. The notice, which is accompanied by a card for stamping as necessary, explains the circumstances in which contributions may be due for missing weeks and points out, where there has been a subsequent change in the contribution rate, that stamps from the current range to the same value may be affixed to the card. If this results in an excess payment because the arrears cannot be met exactly, the Department will, of course, refund the excess on application. No record is kept of the small sums which are paid in excess.