HC Deb 22 July 1991 vol 195 c432W
20. Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received about the level of national insurance contributions.

Mr. Jack

We have received representations from employers' organisations expressing opposition to proposals put forward by the European Commission which would result in national insurance contributions being levied on earnings below the current lower earnings limit.

We have also received a small number of representations on behalf of self-employed people about the recent annual increase in their national insurance-contributions.

Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much and what percentage of national health service expenditure is financed by national insurance contributions; and by how much the category A old -age pension could be increased if the national health service were wholly financed out of other taxes.

Miss Widdecombe

In 1990–91 £4.3 billion of NI contributions income went towards the cost of the NHS; about 15 per cent. of gross NHS expenditure. The level of retirement pension is set by law each year according to the movement in prices and is not determined by the balance in the NI fund. It would not therefore be affected by any change in the funding arrangements for the NHS.