Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

This order may be cited as the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund Payments) Order (Northern Ireland) 1995 and shall come into operation on 6th April 1995.

2

In this order “the Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 19926.

3

The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 19547 shall apply to this order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Weekly earnings and percentage rate figures for secondary earnings brackets2

In section 9(3) of the Act8 (secondary earnings brackets and appropriate percentage rates)—

a

for the weekly earnings figure £99.99 and the percentage rate figure 3.6, specified in respect of Bracket 1, there shall be substituted respectively the figures £104.99 and 3;

b

for the weekly earnings figures £100.00 and £144.99 and the percentage rate figure 5.6, specified in respect of Bracket 2,. there shall be substituted respectively the figures £105.00, £149.99 and 5;

c

for the weekly earnings figures £145.00 and £199.99 and the percentage rate figure 7.6, specified in respect of Bracket 3, there shall be substituted respectively the figures £150.00, £204.99 and 7;

d

for the weekly earnings figure £200.00 specified in respect of Bracket 4, there shall be substituted the figure £205.00.

Rate of, and small earnings exception from, Class 2 contributions3

In section 11 of the Act9 (Class 2 contributions)—

a

in subsection (1) (weekly rate) for “£5.65” there shall be substituted “£5.75”;

b

in subsection (4) (small earnings exception) for “£3,200” there shall be substituted “£3,260”.

Amount of Class 3 contributions4

In section 13(1) of the Act10 (amount of Class 3 contributions) for “£5.55” there shall be substituted “£5.65”.

Lower and upper limits for Class 4 contributions5

In sections 15(3) and 18(1) of the Act11 (Class 4 contributions recoverable under the Income Tax Acts and under regulations)—

a

for “£6,490” (lower limit) wherever it appears there shall be substituted in each of those sections “£6,640”;

b

for “£22,360” (upper limit) there shall be substituted in each of those sections “£22,880”.

Prescribed percentage of estimated benefit expenditure6

Article 4(3) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 shall have effect with respect to the tax year 1995-96 and the prescribed percentage of estimated benefit expenditure for the financial year ending in that tax year shall be 10 per cent.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland on

W. G. PurdyAssistant Secretary

The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby consents to Article 6 of the foregoing order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on

D. ThomsonAssistant Secretary