§ 19. Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent steps have been taken by his Department to crack down on those who wilfully seek to evade their legal responsibility to pay national insurance.
§ Mr. JackFollowing the establishment of the contributions unit in April this year significant progress has been made. We have strengthened the complement of national insurance inspectors, improved the training they receive and increased the number of visits to employers.
Such visits are designed to identify irregularities in the payment of contributions and to ensure that the benefit entitlement of employees is properly protected. The unit is well on the way to reducing the amount of underpaid contributions and further progress can be expected next year when the unit is given agency status.