§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in what circumstances his Department waives proceedings against individuals for arrears of national insurance contributions; and how many such waivers have been granted in each of the past three years.
§ Mr. EnnalsStanding instructions provide for officials of the Department to waive proceedings for arrears of national insurance contributions in various circumstances. The most common cases are those where the person concerned would have been entitled to exception from liability for contributions if he had claimed it, or where it would not be practicable to recover arrears because of his financial circumstances. Separate statistics are not kept of the numbers of cases where proceedings are waived, but they run into many thousands each year.