Written question asked by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Monday, 30 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 11 May 2001. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Friday, 11 May 2001 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many married women who previously chose to pay reduced national insurance contributions have opted to pay the full contributions in each year since 1997; and how much last year's information campaign aimed at these women cost. - Includes table. (Holding answer 3 May 2001).

Answer: Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many married women who previously chose to pay reduced national insurance contributions have opted to pay the full contributions in each year since 1997; and how much last year's information campaign aimed at these women cost. [160232] Dawn Primarolo: [holding answer 3 May 2001]: An estimate of the number of women opting to pay full-rate contributions in the years identified, based on a 3 per cent. sample of our records is: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number 6 April 1997 to 5 April 1998 17,200 6 April 1998 to 5 April 1999 14,700 6 April 1999 to 5 April 2000 4,800 6 April 2000 to 5 April 2001 3,300 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The Mailshot and publicity prompted a number of women to request state retirement pension forecasts. We dealt with 35,314 requests between 2 October 2000 and 5 March 2001. As of 5 March 2001, we have issued 20,959 actual forecasts. The cost of the campaign was approximately £32,000.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 160232; 368 c430-1W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Women Workplace pensions National insurance contributions Publicity Rebates Married people
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk