§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been made to him following the decision that veterinary surgeons in private practice must pay earnings related national insurance contributions on work done for the Ministry of Agriculture as local veterinary inspectors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OrmeRepresentations have been received by my Department from the British Veterinary Association and from individual veterinary surgeons as well as from certain hon. Members. Officials of my Department have also attended a meeting at which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and his officials received the views of the British Veterinary Association, supported by the hon. Member for Tiverton (Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop) and The Earl of Onslow. With the assistance of my Department, arrangements have been made by the Association for two veterinary surgeons, representative of principals and employees of practices, to apply for formal determination under358W the adjudication provisions of the Social Security Act of the question of their liability for class 1 national insurance contributions on fees for work done as local veterinary inspectors. In the circumstances, it would not be proper for me to say anything which might anticipate the outcome of proceedings on those applications, which the Act requires to be determined under my right hon. Friend's authority.