HC Deb 24 April 1975 vol 890 cc369-70W
Mr. Percival

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is taking to ensure that all insurance contributors are fully aware of the new regulations relating to the payment of insurance contributions and particularly the self-employed who may have to pay both Class 2 and Class 4 contributions.

Mr. O'Malley

A publicity campaign was launched in August 1973, directed first at employers. Preliminary guides to the new arrangements were sent to 1 million employers in May 1974, followed in November by the full operational guides and in March 1975 by the new contribution tables and working documents. This was supplemented by a planned programme of advisory visits to employers throughout the country by officers of my Department, an advertising campaign in the national Press and talks to representative groups. Leaflets explain- ing the new provisions to employees are available at local social security offices.

Leaflets explaining the changes for Class 2 and Class 3 contributors, including the introduction of Class 4 contributions, were provided for self-employed and non-employed persons when they exchanged their national insurance cards last year. From August 1974 leaflets explaining the Class 4 arrangements have been available at tax offices and local social security offices. The Inland Revenue have provided printed guidance on the treatment of income for Class 4 contribution purposes and all self-employed persons who are assessed for these contributions will be given an explanatory leaflet. Over the past 18 months many self-employed people have been given detailed advice at local offices and in the course of the advisory visits to employers.