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National Insurance Contributions Bill

My Lords, of course this particular item raises revenue, but it is part of a package, where there are costs from changing other aspects of the system. Surely, it is right to look at this in aggregate. You cannot seriously argue that you can pick one component and say that this is all about raising taxes. It is simply not the case. The noble Lord, Lord Newby, asked specifically about projections and what changes would happen as a result of allocations of revenue collected between the UAP and the UEL—a point raised by the ICAEW. The introduction of UAP does not affect the overall application of NICs between the NIF and the NHS, which are calculated in accordance with Section 162 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. It does not affect that at all. The noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, asked about the latest accounts. I shall have to write specifically on the 2006-07 accounts, but I am advised that there is a Government Actuary’s Department report published in January 2008. I am not quite clear what period that covers, but I will write to the noble Baroness with more details.