§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the savings if all national insurance, excluding means-tested benefits, were increased by 11 per cent. next November; and if he will publish figures tabulating those savings according to main benefit categories and also by comparison with the savings proposed in the Social Security (No. 2) Bill.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply, 30 April 1980, c. 521–22]: Column 1 of the table below gives the savings to the National Insurance Fund in a full year if the current rates of the benefits listed were to be increased by 11 per cent. instead of 16½ per cent. The net reduction in public expenditure would depend on the amount by which means-tested benefits were increased. Column 2 gives the savings to the Fund in a full year from uprating the current rates of the benefits specified in Clause (1) of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill 1980 by 11½ per cent. instead of 16½ per cent., under the powers contained in that Clause.
scheme for mineworkers; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply, 28 April 1980, c. 397]: On the assumption that payments under the voluntary early retirement scheme for mineworkers would be within the scope of the proposals in 557W clause 5 of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill, payments to a mineworker over the age of 60 under that scheme would, if they exceeded £35.00 a week, lead to abatement of unemployment benefit. Officials from this Department have been in touch with officials from the Department of Energy about this and other matters, but if the hon. Member has a particular point in mind no doubt he will let me know.