§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of crediting in those earning between £67 and £72 per week to the national insurance system. [151425]
§ Dawn PrimaroloI regret a reliable answer cannot be provided because of the difficulty of making a long-term estimate of benefit costs for a relatively small number of people.
§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the change in revenue to the Exchequer in the financial year 2001–02 as a result of(a) raising the upper earnings limit on employee national insurance contributions to the threshold of the higher rate of Income tax, (b) removing the upper earnings limit on employee national insurance contributions, (c) extending the 10 per cent. rate of income tax band to £7,272 per year of gross income and implementing it as a restricted allowance, restricted to the basic rate of 22 per cent. and (d) extending the 10 per cent. rate of income tax band to £10,052, and implementing it as a restricted allowance, restricted to the basic rate of 22 per cent. assuming the personal allowance is £7,272. [151427]
§ Dawn PrimaroloEstimates for the effects of raising and abolishing the upper earnings limit were given to my hon. Friend in my answer to him on 29 November 2000,Official Report, column 591W. Without further details I am unable to provide an answer to the final two parts of my hon. Friend's question.