§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the number of people awarded national insurance contribution credits in 1994–95, (b) the average number of credits awarded and (c) the cost of funding these national insurance credits; and if he will indicate the different groups being credited with national insurance contributions. [10770]
§ Mr. HealdSome 10.5 million people in the United Kingdom in one or more of the categories listed were awarded an average of 39.4 national insurance credits in the tax year 1994–95.1 Estimates of the costs arising from these credits are not available.
Categories of people awarded national insurance credits:
- Young people, for the tax years containing their 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays.
- People over age 18 undergoing courses of approved training.
- People entitled to invalid care allowance.
- People who are unemployed or incapable of work.
- Men age 60–64 who are not liable to pay class 1 or class 2 contributions.
- People on jury service.
- Women receiving statutory maternity pay.
- People whose course of full-time education, training or apprenticeship has terminated.
- Widows on termination of widowed mother's allowance.
Source:11 per cent sample of national insurance records.