National Insurance Contributions Bill

Again, I am following the hon. Gentleman’s comments closely. He was taking about the risk of stifling innovation. Is he really suggesting that the self-employed, who currently pay, I think, £2.10 per week in class 2 contributions, would be rolled into a kind of super-income tax along with everybody else if his proposal to get rid of NICs were introduced? That might well stifle innovation in our economy, which has been a strength for 400 years.