§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information his Department has with regard to problems arising on benefit claims due to failure to pay or late payment of national insurance contributions by employers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardNo records are kept of the number of persons whose employers have either failed to pay contributions or have paid them late. However, we have an established procedure which is used where benefit is claimed and the non-payment or late payment of contributions is caused through no fault of an employee. In such cases the employee's correct contribution position is urgently established and his record is credited with the relevant contributions, which in turn allows benefit to be paid. These contributions are treated as paid on time, and this ensures that individual benefit rights are not affected.