HC Deb 15 March 1984 vol 56 cc217-8W
Mr. Ashdown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how Inland Revenue staff working on the new computerised pay-as-you-earn system will trace the national insurance number of a taxpayer in the case that the control card for that person does not show the national insurance number.

Mr. Moore

Inland Revenue staff wishing to trace a taxpayer's national insurance number send an inquiry form to the taxpayer asking for the national insurance number. If the taxpayer does not know it, the Department of Health and Social Security is asked to provide it.

Mr. Ashdown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the circumstances in which a taxpayer within the scope of the new computerised pay-as-you-earn system may either become entitled to the age allowance for the first time or start to receive a taxable national insurance pension other than after pension entitlement details for that person have been received by the Inland Revenue from Department of Health and Social Security records, giving the number of such cases occurring in a year.

Mr. Moore

Men who do not retire when they reach the age of 65 and married men who are younger than their wives may become entitled to the age allowance before they become entitled to a retirement pension. Some men and women may reach the age of 65 and become entitled to the age allowance without satisfying the contribution conditions for a retirement pension. Statistics on the number of such cases are not available.

The Inland Revenue receives centrally pension entitlement details for all new awards 50p a week or more, but the pensioner's tax district is sometimes not located.

Mr. Ashdown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Inland Revenue staff working in the new computerised pay-as-you-earn system are authorised to trace national insurance numbers by means of inquiry of information held by the Department of Health and Social Security.

Mr. Moore

Yes.