National Insurance Contributions

HC Deb 22 October 2002 vol 391 cc212-3W

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many married women paying the reduced rate of National Insurance contributions opted to pay the full rate in each year since 1977; [74723]

(2) how many married women who have paid reduced rate National Insurance contributions opted to buy back past years to increase their benefit entitlement, in each year since 1977. [74724]

Dawn Primarolo

The number of married women paying at the reduced rate of National Insurance contributions who opted to pay the full rate would only be available for the years requested at disproportionate cost. However, available estimates based on a 3 per cent. sample of the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2) are in the table.

	Numbers of women opting to pay at the full rate after paying reduced rate contributions
1997–1998	12,100
1998–1999	14,900
1999–2000	11,600
2000–2001	7,200

Current legislation does not allow married women the option to buy back years covered by a reduced rate election to increase their benefit entitlement.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the categories of people who had to pay reduced rate class 1 national insurance contributions; and, for each category, whether entitlement to contributory benefits was gained; [76114]

(2) if he will list the categories of people given the option to pay reduced rate class 1 national insurance contributions (a) before and (b) after 5 April 1977; and, for each category, whether entitlement to contributory benefits was gained. [76113]

Dawn Primarolo

Married women and widows married before 5 April 1977 could elect, if the election was made before 12 May 1977, to pay reduced rate National Insurance contributions. The reduced rate contributions they elected to pay only covered them for Industrial Injuries Benefits. They did not build up entitlement to other contributory benefits in their own right. However, these women may receive a basic state pension based on their husband's contribution record when he retires and claims his state retirement pension.