HC Deb 02 April 2001 vol 366 cc90-2W
Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) of 14 March 2001,Official Report, column 606W, on national insurance numbers, how the new tests for national insurance numbers are more stringent. [154915]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 22 March 2001]We have aligned the process for both benefit and employment inspired applications for National Insurance Numbers (NINOs). All adult applicants will be interviewed by dedicated specially trained staff using investigative interviewing techniques. Pre-interview questioning will take place prior to the specialist interview so that information can be validated.

Post interview, the information given by an applicant in support of their application will be corroborated. Documentation supplied by an applicant will be scrutinised by specially trained staff using specialist equipment provided for this purpose. We have introduced a more stringent internal checking regime to ensure that a NINO application is valid and that the applicant does not already have a NINO. The introduction of dedicated staff will reduce the number of staff who have authority to create a NINO.

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) of 14 March 2001,Official Report, column 606W, on national insurance numbers. if the new test for national insurance numbers will apply to all numbers allocated to those under 16 years of age. [154914]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 22 March 2001]The enhanced National Insurance Number (NINO) process applies only to adult applications.

There is no enhanced NINO process for under 16's, however before a child can be allocated a Child Reference Number, their parents have to go through this process.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many national insurance numbers there were on(a) the Departmental Central Index and (b) NIRSI/NIRS2, in each year since 1992. [152436]

Mr. Rooker

The figures are set out in the tables. The difference between the number of records held on DC1 and NIRS1/NIRS2 is becauseDCI holds records for 12.5 million children [Child Reference Numbers]. Such records are notified to NIRS2 only as and when the children approach age 16. DCI holds NINOs allocated to customers who are over Retirement Pension age. These records are not notified to NIRS2 as there is no contribution liability.

The DCI Data Cleansing work is incorporated within the current core business. This includes such activities as data cleansing, data maintenance and the removal of duplicate and surplus NINOs.

The rise in number of NINOs reflects the fact that while additions are made each year for children who reach 16 and others who apply for a NINO. Records need to be retained in the event of a surviving spouse making a claim on their partner's contribution.

National Insurance numbers held on DCI
Year Total of NINOs at 31 December (million)
1992 71
1993 75
1994 76
1995 77
1996 77
1997 79
1998 80
1999 81
2000 82

Note:

Figures rounded to the nearest million.

National Insurance numbers held on NIRSI/NIRS2
Year Total of NINOs at 31 December(million)
1992 61
1993 62
1994 63
1995 64
1996 65
1997 66
1998 67
1999 68
2000 69

Note:

Figures rounded to the nearest million.