| 
 | 
 
Employment contributions (new rates of contributions, increases in earnings ceilings, etc.). 
 |   
 
8.—(1) Section 10 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by— 
  | 
| 
 |  | 
(a) the substitution in subsection (1) (b) of “4.5 per cent.” for “5.5 per cent.”, 
  | 
| 
 |  | 
(b) the substitution in subsection (1) (c) of “£23,200” for “£22,300” (inserted by section 8 (1) (b) of the Act of 1996), 
  | 
| 
 |  | 
(c) the substitution in subsection (1) (d) (i) and (ii) of “£260” for “£250” (inserted by section 8 (1) (c) (iii) of the Act of 1996), and 
  | 
| 
 |  | 
(d) the substitution in subsection (1) (e) of “£27,900” for “£26,800” (inserted by section 8 (1) (d) of the Act of 1996). 
  | 
| 
 |  | 
(2) This section shall come into operation on the 6th day of April, 1997. 
 |