Written question asked by Christopher Chope (Conservative) on Monday, 14 December 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 December 1998. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Thursday, 17 December 1998 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, on what date the Contributions Agency computer system for the self-employed became inoperable.

Answer: Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what date the Contributions Agency computer system for the self-employed became inoperable. [64447] Mr. Timms: The Contributions Agency National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2) is designed to hold over 65 million individual contribution records, calculate contributory benefits, provide data to many other Government Agencies. It also pays age-related contribution rebates to Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes in respect of individual scheme members and collects National Insurance Contributions from both the employed and the self-employed. To date, over £300 million has been collected from the self-employed through the monthly direct debit facility and the quarterly collection method. Since its introduction on the 13 July 1998, the NIRS2 system has never become inoperable. Some facilities within the system have not yet been fully implemented.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 64447; 322 c715W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Databases Software Computers National insurance contributions Social Security Contributions Agency Self-employed