I really ought to get out more!

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 24 January 2005 20:47:30

You know, I'd always assumed that the combination of numbers and letters that make up my National Insurance number were entirely random - no reason for them, just the next available combination when I was born. But now it seems not...

A few weeks ago, in discussion with my younger brother, we somehow discovered (and I ahve abslutely no idea how we got onto the subject - we don't normally sit around swapping NI numbers, honest!) that we have consecutive NI numbers - mine is (eg) XX 11 22 33 A and his XX 11 22 34 B. Which is either a total fluke - or displays some canny planning by someone in government. I mean, how did they know I'd have just one sibling - or have they reserved a whole batch of numbers for any subsequent brothers/sisters? If so, what happens to all the unused numbers when we run out - do they end up collecting up all the odds and ends to dish out to people who promise to have only one child?

Like I said, I really should get out more....