Cannydc wrote:"The National Insurance stamp used to be to fund the NHS and Old Age pensions."
The question about that generalised statement is 'when?'
NI was first proposed in the 1908 "People's Budget" of David Lloyd George, along with a dramatic expansion of the scope of Income Tax and plans for a system of old age pensions - which would be funded at this time by general taxation.
The scheme, which came into effect in July 1912, was intended to create a national system of insurance for working people against illness and unemployment. Nothing to do with pensions.
In 1925, the Ministry of Health was charged with the administration of contributory pensions under the Old Age, Widows' and Orphans' Contributory Pensions Act 1925, which replaced the older system.
The system was "nationalised" in 1945, with the creation of the Ministry for National Insurance. It has almst never been self sufficient - up until 1990, shortfalls in the Fund had been met by a central government grant.
http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/national-insurance
You see Cannydc? This is what I have been talking about
Your post above is informative, interesting and relevant
It contains no spiteful comments or personal insults
It could have been a good contribution to a constructive conversation about ring fencing taxes in general - which is what is being proposed for future NHS funding I believe
We could even have discussed the merits of ringfencing benefits - for example, should housing benefits be paid directly to landlords (another recent proposal)
But no, unfortunately, in another thread, you have reverted to childish insults along with your tag-team mate.
Opportunity lost, I fear.
