HC Deb 24 January 1997 vol 288 c769W
Mr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the rules in respect of the granting of national insurance numbers, with special reference to how they relate to(a) nationals of other member states of the European Union and (b) nationals of other foreign countries. [11057]

Mr. Heald

Anyone who does not already have one is required to apply for a United Kingdom national insurance number if he is liable or entitled to pay UK national insurance contributions, irrespective of nationality. For administrative purposes, anyone claiming a UK social security benefit who does not already have a number will be asked to apply for one.

Mr. Alan Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of aligning the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions with the personal tax allowance for the year 1997–98. [10976]

Mr. Heald

In a full year the estimated loss in revenue from employee national insurance contributions would be £1,075 million and the gain in revenue from employer national insurance contributions would be £225 million.

Note:

The estimated net gain in revenue from employers' national insurance contributions arises from the counter effect of the contracted-out rebate being applied to a narrower band of earnings.

Source:

Government Actuary's Department.

Mr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Spanish fishermen have applied for national insurance numbers at Falmouth in the past 12 months; and how many applications have been granted. [11030]

Mr. Heald

During the past 12 month, 38 Spanish nationals have been registered at Falmouth for national insurance purposes in order to meet their liability to pay a class 2 share fisherman's contribution under the United Kingdom national insurance scheme. These individuals have been accepted as self-employed and therefore allocated a national insurance number on the basis that they receive a share of the proceeds from the catch.