§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to bring to the attention of the women concerned the Government's decision to extend the deadline for married women to opt to pay full national insurance contributions; and what is the new deadline.
§ Mr. EnnalsThere has been no change in the time limits within which a woman with reduced liability for national insurance contributions may revoke her election and become a full member of the new pensions scheme with effect from 6th April 1978. The general position remains that a married woman or widow with reduced liability who wished to become a full member of the new pensions scheme from the outset was required to revoke her election before 6th April 1978. But a woman who had made an election to pay reduced contributions before 6th April 1975 and has not been liable for any contributions since then can, up to April 1980, revoke her election in the course of a tax year and make it effective from the start of that year. Thus, it is still possible for women in this position, provided they revoke their election before 6th April 1979, to make their new choice effective from April 1978. This point has been clarified in additions to leaflets NI 1 —for married women—and NI 51—for widows—which are made available at local social security offices to all women244W inquiring about the possibility of revoking an election. The staff at the local offices will be glad to give advice to any woman who is in doubt as to the date from which her revocation may take effect.