HL Deb 16 November 2000 vol 619 cc47-8WA

Lord Higgins asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement made no reference to his proposal to increase national insurance contributions. [HL4595]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The proposed increase in the upper earnings limit for employees' national insurance contributions from April 2001 was announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget on 9 March 1999 as part of the Government's response to the recommendations in Martin Taylor's report. Full details of all changes in national insurance contributions rates and limits for the tax year 2001–02 were announced in the House of Commons by the Paymaster General, following the Pre-Budget Report (Official Report, 8 November 2000; cols. 274W-276W) and were also set out in an Inland Revenue press release.