§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated value of savings of national insurance contributions and the employer's surcharge made by firms using self-employed agents for door-to-door or catalogue selling.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that this information is not available. Door-to-door salesmen may be engaged in a variety of ways and liability for national insurance contributions depends upon the particular circumstances of fie employment. If these are such that a contract of service exists then there is liability for class 1 contributions (including the national insurance surcharge) in respect of454W earnings from this employment which reach the lower earnings limit. If there is no contract of service, the salesman is responsible for paying class 2 contributions himself as a self-employed person.
Savings on national insurance contributions and the national insurance surcharge could only be made by employers who are evading their liability for class 1 contributions.
I am not aware of any problems in this area but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall gladly look into it.