HC Deb 04 November 2002 vol 392 cc143-4W
Mr. Webb

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the periods in the last 30 years where the National Insurance Contributions regime for armed forces personnel were different to those that applied to ordinary employees, listing in each case(a) whether such arrangements were (i) voluntary and (ii) compulsory, (b) what rates of contribution applied, (c) whether separate rules applied to (i) men and (ii) women and (d) what benefits accrued in respect of these contributions. [77867]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 29 October 2002]: Prior to 6 April 1996 serving members of Her Majesty's Forces paid National Insurance contributions at a reduced rate. The contributions paid built up entitlement to all contributory benefits although Contributory Jobseekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit are not payable to serving members of Her Majesty's Forces. The amount of the reductions, which were compulsory, are shown in the table below.

Reduction in weekly primary (flat rate) NICs
Dates Men over 18 Women over 18 Men under 18 Women under 18
2 October 1972 to 30 September 1973 0.11 0.08 0.06 0.05
1 October 1973 to 4 August 1974 0.09 0.07 0.05 0.04
5 August 1974 to 5 April 1975 0.07 0.05 0.05 0.04

Percentage Reduction in Primary NICs Dates
Dates Standard Rate Reduced Rate
6 April 1975 to 5 April 1978 0.8 0.2
6 April 1978 to 5 April 1982 0.7 0.15
6 April 1982 to 5 April 1984 1.05 0.5
6 April 1984 to 5 April 1988 0.9 0.9
6 April 1988 to 5 April 1989 0.8 0.8
6 April 1989 to 5 April 1990 0.65 0.65
6 April 1990 to 5 April 1991 0.7 0.7
6 April 1991 to 5 April 1992 0.6 0.6
6 April 1992 to 5 April 1993 0.4 0.4
6 April 1993 to 5 April 1995 0.5 0.5
6 April 1995 to 5 April 1996 0.4 0.4

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