China (Hansard, 8 November 2000)

§ Mr. Battle

The Government take an active role in the EU in determining the direction and strategy for the EU/China Human Rights Dialogue. The UK proposed a review into strengthening the dialogue procedures at a joint COHOM/COASI meeting on 9 February. This was

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Class 3 The rate of class 3 voluntary contributions will be increased by 20 pence to £6.75 a week.

Share Fishermen The special rate of class 2 contributions for share fishermen, which allows them to build entitlement to contributory jobseekers allowance in addition to the other contributory benefits available to the self-employed, will remain at £2.65 a week.

Volunteer Development Workers The special rate of class 2 contributions for volunteer development workers, which entitles them to the full range of contributory benefits, will be increased by 25 pence to £3.60 in line with the statutory formula of 5 per cent. of the primary class 1 lower earnings limit.

Treasury Grant Although benefit expenditure from the National Insurance Fund will broadly match income, I need to ensure that the fund can maintain a prudent working balance throughout the coming year. In accordance with section 2(2) of the Social Security Act 1993, I propose to do so by prescribing that the maximum Treasury grant which may be made available to the fund in 2001–02 shall not exceed 2 per cent. of the estimated benefit expenditure for that year. Similar provision will be made in respect of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund.

I shall be laying a draft re-rating order before Parliament in due course. This will accompany a report by the Government Actuary to myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security, which we shall jointly present to Parliament.

The following table sets out the rates, earnings limits and thresholds for National Insurance Contributions proposed for 2001–02.

supplemented by the GAC conclusions of 20 March which, at the Foreign Secretary's initiative, included a call for the setting of objectives. The Presidency envisage concluding the review by the GAC meeting on 4 December. The Foreign Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the bilateral relationship with China, to which the Foreign Secretary gave evidence.