§ 41. Mr. ArbuthnotTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his proposals for improving the collection of national insurance contributions.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardWe have recently established a new unit within the Department to take responsibility for all the operational aspects of national insurance contributions work.
The unit will place a high priority on compliance, and there will be improved training for national insurance inspectors. Their existing jobs will be reorganised so that they can spend more time visiting employers and investigating national insurance irregularities. By carrying out other contributions work more efficiently, it is intended that staff resources will be released to allow additional inspectors to be deployed.
From April 1991, we propose that the unit should be given full agency status, thus increasing management accountability and encouraging the development of a more professional approach to contributions work.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if people found to be wrongly imprisoned are fully credited for national insurance contributions during their stay in custody.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThere are no legislative provisions which allow national insurance credits to be awarded in these circumstances.