asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much per week a wife in part-time employment who is living with her employed husband can earn before being compelled to pay national insurance on her own account (a) with no children of school age and (b) with one, two, three and four children of school age.

Earnings-related national insurance contributions are payable by and in respect of employed earners of both sexes between the age of 16 and pensionable age whose wage from any employment reaches or exceeds the lower earnings limit—currently 17·50 a week; family commitments are not material.