§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) married women and (b) widows who were paying reduced rate social security contributions opted to pay full contributions at the start of the current contribution year.
§ Mr. OrmeIt is estimated that the number of women with reduced contribution liability who chose to pay full contributions from the start of the current contribution year was 158,000, of whom 37,500 were widows.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) married women and (b) widows were 804W paying full social security contributions in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978; and what proportion of married women and widows with earnings above the lower contribution limit this represents.
§ Mr. OrmeThe latest period for which figures are available is 1975–76. It is estimated that 2,120,000 married women and 89,000 widows paid full rate class 1 contributions at some time during that year. This represents 34 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively of married women and widows with earnings above the lower contribution limit. Figures for later periods are not yet available.