HC Deb 11 December 1974 vol 883 cc191-2W
Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in England and Wales were registered by her Department as employed, unemployed and self-employed for the purposes of national insurance stamps on 1st December, or the nearest convenient date, in each of the years 1960 until 1974 inclusive.

Mr. Alec Jones

Registration for national insurance is not separated into the categories of employed, self-employed and non-employed persons. However, figures are available to and including 1972 of the number of contributions paid or credited in one week at the end of November each year. For 1973 the latest figures are for June and these reflect the normal summer holiday decrease. There are no figures as yet for 1974. The figures to the nearest 1,000 are as follows:

Year Employed persons Self-employed persons Non- employed persons
1960 22,537,000 1,420,000 829,000
1961 22,673,000 1,419,000 719,000
1962 22,777,000 1,429,000 774,000
1963 22,995,000 1,425,000 788,000
1964 23,165,000 1,420,000 779,000
1965 23,277,000 1,427,000 754,000
1966 23,047,000 1,476,000 937,000
1967 22,937,000 1,479,000 945,000
1968 22,821,000 1,542,000 993,000
1969 22,444,000 1,587,000 988,000
1970 22,284,000 1,564,000 951,000
1971 22,040,000 1,587,000 1,006,000
1972 22,074,000 1,599,000 1,060,000
1973 21,561,000 1,557,000 923,000
(June)

Mr. Horam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will reconsider the system whereby people who are temporarily laid off work through a dispute elsewhere have to make national insurance contributions at the non-employed rate.

Mr. Alec Jones

There is no such requirement for people temporarily unemployed through a dispute which is not at their place of employment If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and will let me know, I shall be pleased to look into it.