asked the Minister for Social Welfare further to the introduction in 1977-78 of the £1 reduction in the social insurance payment for all employees earning less than £50 per week, the number of persons who benefited from this reduction in 1977, 1978, 1979 and in 1980 to date.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
32.
The reduction in the weekly rate of social insurance contribution for persons earning less than £50 per week was introduced in January 1978. The initial reduction of £1 a week operated for three months and was increased to £1.50 from April 1978. The reduction of £1.50 continued until the introduction on 6 April 1979 of the pay-related social insurance system.
It is estimated that approximately 250,000 persons benefited by the reduction.
From April 1979 all employees pay weekly contributions related to their weekly rate of remuneration under the fully pay-related system of social insurance. Under the pay-related scheme lower paid employees automatically pay less than under the former flat-rate system.