§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases are known to his Department 129W currently, or in the last year for which records are available, where a person has been unable to claim back excess payments of class 2 contributions, as in the case of Mr. W., a constituent of the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, whose name is given in the letter of 7 June from Lord Skelmersdale to the hon. Member, reference PO(6) 2487/9; and whether he will seek powers to be able to make ex gratia refunds in similar cases in future.
§ Mr. PortilloThe Department does not separately identify this type of case in its records.
As my noble Friend explained in his letter, information on the small earnings exception is made avalable at the outset to those applying to pay national insurance contributions on a self-employed basis. I do not therefore consider that there are grounds for seeking powers to make refunds of contributions in cases where the opportunity to apply for small earnings exception is taken up later than it might have been.