Lord Londesborough:

Moved by Lord Londesborough

15A: Clause 2, page 1, line 12, after “£96” insert “or,(b) for businesses and organisations with fewer than 25 full-time employees, £175.”Member’s explanatory statementThis amendment is linked to others in the name of Lord Londesborough. It seeks to maintain the secondary threshold at which employers become liable to pay national insurance contributions on employees’ earnings at £175 for businesses and organisations employing fewer than 25 staff.

I will not make another speech, but I thank all noble Lords for their thoughtful and supportive contributions when we debated this amendment. I welcomed the challenges, particularly from the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, who is not in his place, which I listened to with great respect. However, I disagree with his analysis. The cliff edge threshold is there in the Bill for all to see, and Clause 2 has moved it in the wrong direction, to the detriment of small businesses, economic growth and jobs.

I thank the Minister for his patient and construction interactions, but I wish to test the opinion of the House. I beg to move.

Ayes 199, Noes 149.

Amendment 15A agreed.