§ Mr. Cowansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the difference in revenue raised since the raising of the limit of part-time earnings from £11 to £15; and if he will publish figures for two comparable months at the former and present limits.
§ Mr. OrmeThe lower earnings limit for Class 1 national insurance contributions was £11 a week in 1975–76 and is £15 a week in 1977–78. Class 1 contribution receipts accruing in 1975–76 and received in that year or later years in respect of earnings in 1975–76 are estimated to amount to £6,750 million. The estimate for 1977–78—excluding national insurance surcharge—is £9,146 million and is on the basis of the assumptions used in the Government Actuary's report on the draft of the Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 1977 (Cmnd. 6848). As the difference results almost wholly from factors other than the change 507W in the lower earnings limit, a comparison of monthly accruals in those years would be misleading. The 1977–78 estimate would have been some £30 million higher if the lower earnings limit were £11 a week. But this estimate should be treated with considerable caution as the available statistics are known to be deficient concerning very low earners.