Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Sassoon (Conservative) on Thursday, 2 December 2010.

National Insurance

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 16 November (WA 196), why they do not keep statistics on the numbers of non-European Economic Area nationals sent to work in the United Kingdom by an overseas employer who benefit from the 52-week exclusion from national insurance contributions by virtue of Regulation 145(2) or (3) of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001; and how much is lost per annum from unpaid national insurance contributions by such employees and employers.

Answer: The exemption from national insurance contributions (NICs) for 52 weeks by virtue of Regulation 145(2) and (3) of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 is operated by employers on a self-assessment basis. Information on the amount of NICs foregone due to this exemption is not available. It would add unnecessarily to the burdens on businesses, and be inconsistent with the current approach to other exemptions and disregards that apply to NICs, to require employers to send information to HM Revenue and Customs about this exemption.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4461; 722 c484WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Visas
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Subjects: Exemptions Foreign companies National insurance contributions Migrant workers Statistics
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk