§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 2 November 2000,Official Report, column 575W, for how many years the National Insurance Fund will remain in surplus over and above the 588W recommended surplus if contribution rates remain unchanged and contribution thresholds are uprated in line with average earnings. [137524]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 9 November 2000]: The number of years for which the National Insurance Fund would remain in surplus over and above the recommended surplus would be reduced by one year if contribution thresholds were increased by average earnings.