What does tax/national insurance pay for?
Tax is used to support government spending so that they can afford to run the country. It covers public services, infsstructure, and income support. Anyone who receives a taxable income pays tax.
National insurance pays for the national health service (NHS), the state pension and a number of other state benefits.
Who collects tax/national insurance?
The HMRC.
How do employees pay tax?
Their employer calculates the correct amount of tax to deduct, as they pay this to the HMRC in behalf of the employee.