§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the extra cost will be in a full year to (a) the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust; and(b) employees of the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust of the increase in national insurance contributions from April 2003. [88575]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 7 January 2003]: It is not possible to estimate the exact cost to Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service trust and its employees of the increase in national insurance (NI) contributions from April 2003. It is estimated that the changes to employees' NI contributions will increase pay costs by an average of 0.7 per cent. next year.