§ Sir William Clarkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer in a full year of(a)a 10 per cent. cut in the national insurance surcharge and(b)of its total abolition.
§ Mr. BrittanA 10 per cent. cut in the rate of national insurance surcharge would reduce the yield by 10 per526W cent., and in 1982–83 NIS is expected to yield in the region of £3 billion. Total abolition would therefore cost about £3 billion.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the national insurance surcharge paid by central Government and local authorities, respectively, over the last two years; and what is the expected value for the current financial year.
§ Mr. Brittan[pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1982, c.410]: The information is as follows:
1980 1981 1982–83(estimated) Central Government 354 407 330 Local authorities 415 482 520