National Insurance Contributions Bill

I think that I can help the hon. Gentleman and the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth). The 2 December 2004 statement was part of the pre-Budget report, which was subject to statement and questions in the House. It was then subject to debate, as some of their right hon. and hon. Friends can confirm, in the proceedings on what became the Finance (No.2) Act 2005 when the tax measures, the sister measures to national insurance, were debated. It has in fact been questioned and debated a lot.