HC Deb 20 March 1987 vol 112 cc660-1W
Ms. Clare Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many individuals paid self-employed national insurance contributions for each year from 1957 to 1979.

Mr. Major

The information is as follows. The two tables are not directly comparable because of the changes in the system which took effect in 1975.

Average number of self-employed persons for whom flat-rate contributions were paid or excused—Great Britain 1962–74
Year Thousands
1962 1,420
1963 1,420
1964 1,420
1965 1,420
1966 1,440
1967 1,480
1968 1,520
1969 1,580
1970 1,590
1971 1,600
1972 1,610
1973 1,620
1974 1,660

Notes:

  1. 1. All figures include persons excused contributions during unemployment or absence of work due to sickness, injury or maternity.
  2. 2. Figures not available for period before 1962.

Persons paying class 2 (self-employed) National Insurance contributions, United Kingdom
Year Thousands
1975–76
1976–77 1,496
1977–78 1,515
1978–79 1,528
1979–80 1,608

Notes:

  1. 1. United Kingdom figure not available for 1975–76; in 1975–76 661 1,490 thousand persons paid Class 2 contributions in Great Britain.
  2. 2. The figures include those who paid a mixture of Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 contributions.