§ Lord Carterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the new rates for National Insurance contributions effective from 7th April are not to be advertised in the national press.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley):New rates of National Insurance contributions have not been advertised in the national press for the past two years. Research conducted by the Department of Social Security has revealed a very low level of recall of National Insurance advertising and it is not therefore seen as an effective method of communicating this information.
People who pay Class 2 contributions by direct debit now all receive a letter telling them the new rates. The mailing of instructions and National Insurance 82WA contribution tables which goes to all employers has been extensively revised to make the information easier to follow.