To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems are in place to enable his Department to notify self-employed people paying National Insurance contributions by direct debit, that those payments are not being received. [80934]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: The Department is not aware of any occasions where payments by direct debit, from self-employed customers, have not been received.On those occasions when the Department, as a result of problems, has been unable to collect National Insurance Contributions from Self Employed Customers, it has identified and written to all those affected.