§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is the practice of his Department to maintain national insurance records throughout the working life of every insured individual; and, if not, under what circumstances such records can be destroyed;
(2) in view of the Under Secretary of State's letter of 2nd February 1978 (Ref: PO(PS-HSS)1326 /28), in which a constituent of the hon. Member for Norfolk, North had achieved only 25 qualifying years out of a possible 30 years, giving him a 93 per cent. pension, whether records for the entire working life are retained for all people who have been employed; and what would be the position, so far as retirement pension is concerned, of a person whose files have been lost or destroyed.
§ Mr. OrmeIt is my Department's practice to maintain throughout each insured individual's lifetime the national insurance records of contributions paid and of benefits claimed by him. Documents of ephemural value relating to claims for benefit or payment of contributions are however generally destroyed at a safe interval after action has been completed and their purpose served in accordance with retention periods agreed with the Public Records Office. Every effort would be made to establish an insured person's record in the event of the loss or destruction of files containing information which was necessary in the determination of entitlement to retirement pension.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley may expect a reply to his letter of 24th January concerning the use of insurance records.
§ Mr. DeakinsI very much regret the delay in answering my hon. Friend's letter. He will be receiving a reply to it as soon as possible.