NI Contributions Bill Committee announce evidence programme
18 November 2013 (updated on 18 November 2013)
The House of Commons Public Bill Committee considering the Government's National Insurance Contributions Bill will hear oral evidence on Tuesday 19 November 2013.
The Committee will then consider the Bill every Thursday and Tuesday from that point, concluding on Thursday 28 November.
The provisional programme of witnesses for the National Insurance Contributions Bill Committee has been agreed by its Programming Sub-Committee. The meetings are open to the public.
Programme and witnesses
Tuesday 19 November - morning
Taking place in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House:
From c 8.55am until no later than 9.45am:
- Federation of Small Businesses
- Institute of Fiscal Studies
Tuesday 29 November - afternoon
Taking place in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House:
c 2pm until no later than 2.30pm:
- Financial Conduct Authority
c 2.30pm until no later than 3.15pm:
- HM Treasury
Line by line scrutiny of the Bill
Line by line scrutiny of the Bill will take place in Committee Room 12, Palace of Westminster, on the following days:
- Thursday 21 November 2013 - 11.30am and 2pm
- Tuesday 26 November 2013 - 8.55am and 2pm
- Thursday 28 November 2013 - 11.30am and 2pm
The Committee must complete consideration of the Bill no later than 5pm on Thursday 28 November.
These sessions will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis. There is no system for the prior reservation of seats in Committee Rooms.
It is advisable to allow about 20 minutes to pass through security checks. Timings and room numbers are subject to change.
Aims of the National Insurance Contributions Bill
In his Budget speech on 20 March 2013 the Chancellor, George Osborne, announced the introduction of a new Employment Allowance: from April 2014 businesses, charities and community sports clubs would be entitled to claim up to £2,000 from their annual payment of secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions (NICs).
Class 1 NICs are paid by both employees and employers on the employee’s earnings. The employee’s share is known as the primary contribution, the employer’s as the secondary contribution. Employers are liable to pay secondary Class 1 NICs at 13.8 per cent on all employee earnings above the secondary threshold, set at £148 a week. This tax cut is estimated to cost £1.26 billion in 2014/15, rising to £1.73 billion by 2017/18.
The main purpose of the National Insurance Contributions Bill 2013-14 is to implement the new allowance. The Bill also contains a number of miscellaneous measures announced in Budget 2013 relating to the scope of NICs.
Follow the progress of the National Insurance Contributions Bill
The National Insurance Contributions Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 14 October 2013. The second reading of the Bill took place on 4 November 2013, giving MPs the opportunity to debate the main principles of the Bill.
- Catch up on Parliament News: Commons second reading: National Insurance Contributions Bill
- Bills before Parliament: National Insurance Contributions Bill 2013-14
Have your say on the National Insurance Contributions Bill
Although the Committee will start hearing oral evidence on Tuesday 19 November, the Committee is still able to receive written evidence from those with relevant expertise and experience or a special interest in the Government’s National Insurance Contributions Bill.
Further Information
The Scrutiny Unit can help with any queries about oral evidence.