Mr. Jacksonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the contemporary estimates of numbers of persons with earnings above the minimum limit for national insurance contributions at the time of the autumn statements in each of the years 1979 to 1984 inclusive; and what were the estimates for the numbers brought below that limit by the changes made in it in each of those years.
§ Mr. Moore[pursuant to his reply, 27 November 1984, c. 445]: Information is not available in precisely the form requested, but the table shows the estimated effect on the number of class 1 contributors of the increases in the lower earnings limit in 1980–81 to 1985–86. The table gives estimates of the average number of employees in the United Kingdom for whom class 1 contributions were payable, and for each of the years an estimate of the additional number of employees who would have been liable for contributions if the lower earnings limit (LEL) had not been increased in that year.
478W* Including taxpaying wives.
† Provisional.
In each case the latest estimate of the effect of the Budget changes on taxpayer numbers is within 100,000 of the estimate made at the time of the Budget concerned.