The Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2007

Made28th March 2007

Coming into force6th April 2007

As a result of carrying out in the tax year 2006-07 a review of the general level of earnings in Great Britain in accordance with section 141(1) and (2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (“the Administration Act”)1, the Treasury have determined that an Order should be made under that section amending Part 1 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19922 by altering the rates of Class 2 and Class 3 contributions, the amount of earnings below which an earner may be excepted from liability for Class 2 contributions and the lower and upper limits of profits or gains to be taken into account for Class 4 contributions.

This Order makes provision for Northern Ireland, which corresponds to that mentioned in relation to Great Britain in the preceding recital, in accordance with section 129 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the Northern Ireland Administration Act”)3.

With a view to adjusting the level at which the National Insurance Fund stands for the time being, and having regard to estimated benefit expenditure for the financial year ending 31st March 2008, the Treasury think it expedient that an Order should be made under section 2(2) of the Social Security Act 1993 (“the 1993 Act”)4.

With a view to adjusting the level at which the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund stands for the time being, and having regard to estimated benefit expenditure for the financial year ending 31st March 2008, the Treasury think it expedient that an Order should be made under Article 4(3) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (“the 1993 Order”)5.

A draft of this Order was laid before Parliament in accordance with the provisions of sections 141(3) and 190(1)(a) of the Administration Act6, section 166(10A) of the Northern Ireland Administration Act7, section 2(8) of the 1993 Act and Article 4(8) of the 1993 Order8 and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly the Treasury make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 141(4) and (5), 142(2) and (3), 143(1) and (3) and 144(2) of the Administration Act9, sections 129 and 165(11A) of the Northern Ireland Administration Act10, section 2(2) of the 1993 Act and Article 4(3) of the 1993 Order and now exercisable by them11.

Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

This Order may be cited as the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2007 and shall come into force on 6th April 2007.

2

In this Order—

“the Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992; and
“the Northern Ireland Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 199212.

Rate of and small earnings exception from Class 2 contributions2

In both section 11 of the Act13 and section 11 of the Northern Ireland Act14 (Class 2 contributions)—

a

in subsection (1) for “£2.10” substitute “£2.20”; and

b

in subsection (4) (small earnings exception) for “£4,465” substitute “£4,635”.

Amount of Class 3 contributions3

In both section 13(1) of the Act15 and section 13(1) of the Northern Ireland Act (amount of Class 3 contributions)16 for “£7.55” substitute “£7.80”.

Lower and upper limits for Class 4 contributions4

In each of sections 15(3), 18(1) and 18(1A) of the Act17 and sections 15(3), 18(1) and 18(1A) of the Northern Ireland Act18 (Class 4 contributions recoverable under the Income Tax Acts and under regulations)—

a

for “£5,035” (lower limit) in each place where it appears, substitute “£5,225”; and

b

for “£33,540” (upper limit) in each place where it appears, substitute “£34,840”.

Prescribed percentage of estimated benefit expenditure – Great Britain5

Section 2(2) of the Social Security Act 1993 (payments into the National Insurance Fund out of money provided by Parliament) shall have effect with respect to the tax year 2007-08 and the prescribed percentage of estimated benefit expenditure for the financial year ending with 31st March in that year shall be 2 per cent.

Prescribed percentage of estimated benefit expenditure – Northern Ireland6

Article 4(3) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (payments into the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund out of appropriated money) shall have effect with respect to the tax year 2007-08 and the prescribed percentage of estimated benefit expenditure for the financial year ending with 31st March in that year shall be 2 per cent.

Claire WardDave WattsTwo of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury28th March 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order increases the rates of Class 2 and Class 3 contributions specified in sections 11(1) and 13(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4) ( “the Act”) from £2.10 to £2.20 and from £7.55 to £7.80. It also increases the amount of earnings specified in section 11(4) of the Act, below which an earner may be excepted from liability for Class 2 contributions from £4,465 to £4,635 (Articles 2 and 3).

The Order also increases, from £5,035 to £5,225 and from £33,540 to £34,840 respectively, the lower and upper limits of profits or gains specified in those sections, between which Class 4 contributions are payable at the main Class 4 percentage rate (Article 4).

Articles 2 to 4 of the Order also make provision for Northern Ireland corresponding to that in the preceding two paragraphs (the section numbers of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7) are the same as those in the Act).

The Order provides for section 2(2) of the Social Security Act 1993 (c. 3) to have effect for the tax year 2007-08. It also provides that the amount of any money that may be provided by Parliament to be paid into the National Insurance Fund in that year shall not exceed in aggregate 2 per cent. of the estimated benefit expenditure for the financial year ending 31st March 2008 (Article 5). The Order also makes corresponding provision for Northern Ireland (Article 4(3) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/592 (N.I.2)) being the provision brought into effect) (Article 6).

In accordance with sections 142(1) and 144(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5), a copy of the report by the Government Actuary (Cm. 7021), giving his opinion on the likely effect on the National Insurance Fund of the making of the Order, insofar as it amends sections 11(1), 11(4), 13(1), 15(3), 18(1) and 18(1A) of the Act, was laid before Parliament with the draft of this Order.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it does not impose any new costs on the private or voluntary sectors.