Social Security Administration Act 1992

145 Power to alter primary and secondary contributions

(1) For the purpose of adjusting amounts payable by way of primary Class 1 contributions, the Secretary of State may at any time make an order altering—

(a) the percentage rate specified as the initial primary percentage in section 8(2)(a) of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

(b) the percentage rate specified as the main primary percentage in section 8(2)(b) of that Act.

(2) For the purpose of adjusting amounts payable by way of secondary Class 1 contributions, the Secretary of State may at any time make an order amending section 9(3) of that Act by altering any one or more of the following figures—

(a) the upper weekly earnings figure specified in respect of Bracket 1;

(b) the weekly earnings figures specified in respect of Brackets 2 to 4; and

(c) the percentage rates specified as the appropriate rates for Brackets 1 to 3.

(3) No order shall be made under this section so as—

(a) to alter the percentage rate of the initial or main primary percentage to a percentage rate more than 0.25 per cent. higher than applicable at the end of the preceding tax year for the primary percentage in question; or

(b) to alter any of the percentage rates specified as the appropriate rates for Brackets 1 to 3 in section 9(3) of the Contributions and Benefits Act to a rate higher than the percentage rate which at the time the order comes into force is specified as the appropriate rate for Bracket 4.

(4) Without prejudice to section 141 or 143 above, the Secretary of State may make such order—

(a) amending section 11(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act by altering the figure specified in that subsection as the weekly rate of Class 2 contributions;

(b) amending section 13(1) of that Act by altering the figure specified in that subsection as the amount of a Class 3 contribution,

as he thinks fit in consequence of the coming into force of an order made or proposed to be made under subsection (1) above.