Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Bronchitis and Emphysema on 27th April 1987.
Mr. Pike Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he now proposes to classify bronchitis and emphysema as industrial diseases.
Mr. Major The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has conducted an investigation into this subject and I understand that its report will be submitted to my right hon. Friend later this year. Its recommendations will be considered then.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 27th April 1987.
Mr. Pike Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for single payments in respect of the exceptionally severe weather were received at Brown house, Burnley benefit office this winter; and how many were approved.
Mr. Major Information on the number of claims is not available in precisely the form requested, but by 21 April 6,702 £5 payments had been made, and 1,093 claims refused, by the Burnley local office.
Below is the text of the Written Parliamentary Answer on the Disabled Persons Act 1986 from 27 April 1987.
Mr. Wigley asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government have now established a target date for the full implementation, with commencement orders, of every section of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Major Sections 4, 8(1), and 9 and 10 were implemented on 1 April 1987. With regard to the implementation of the remaining sections, I cannot add to my reply to the hon. Member on 10 March at column 157.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 27th April 1987.
Mr. Frank Cook Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants in Cleveland receive invalidity benefit without also receiving supplementary benefit, or housing benefit supplement broken down by the following offices (i) Hadrian House, Eston, (ii) Crown house, Hartlepool, (iii) Royal House, Middlesbrough, (iv) Dawson House, Redcar and (v) Bridge Street, Stockton.
Mr. Major I regret that the information requested is not held.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Attendance Allowance on 27th April 1987.
Mr. Nellist Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 23 March, Official Report, column 78, when he expects to complete his consideration of matters raised by the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Moran case; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 7 April at column 149.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Expenditure on 27th April 1987.
Mr. Clay Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 6 April to the hon. Member for Sunderland North, Official Report, column 107, how much of the increase in social security expenditure reflecting a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid is attributable to actual real increases in benefit rates.
Mr. Major Because of the number of structural changes to the benefit system over this period, and the complicated relationship between the rates of income-related benefits and the actual amounts paid, it would require substantial work to isolate the effect of real increases in benefit rates. I regret therefore that it would be disproportionately costly to provide this information.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled People on 24th April 1987.
Mr. Ashley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to apply the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to Northern Ireland.
Mr. Major I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has similar legislation under consideration and the consultative procedures have begun.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Hearing Aids (Batteries) on 23rd April 1987.
Mr. Terry Davis Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the hearing centre at Dudley road hospital in Birmingham is supplying batteries imported from Switzerland for use in hearing aids.
Mr. Major Contracts for the supply of hearing aid batteries are held by a number of manufacturers. An international company based in Switzerland was awarded one of the contracts, to supply a quantity of mercury “button cell” batteries, as a result of competitive tendering carried out according to the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade code on Government procurement. The majority of mercury “button cell” batteries are supplied to the National Health Service by manufacturers in the United Kingdom and the National Health Service will continue to encourage competitive United Kingdom sources of supply.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioners on 22nd April 1987.
Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been for a worker on average earnings retiring in (a) 1974, (b) 1979, (c) 1984 and (d) 1987 (i) the level of the retirement pension, (ii) average occupational pension, (iii) the state earnings-related pension scheme pension, where applicable, (iv) average investment income for a worker on average earnings.
Mr. Major I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled Young People on 22nd April 1987.
Mr. Wigley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on 16-year-old disabled young people who are still at school obtaining an assessment under section 4 of the Disabled Persons (Representation, Consultation and Services) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Major Section 4 of the Disabled Person (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 came into force on 1 April 1987. It makes it clear that a local authority has a duty to decide whether a disabled person’s needs call for the provision of any services in accordance with section 2(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, if requested to do so by the disabled person or by any person, for example a parent, who provides care for him or her in the circumstances mentioned in section 8 of the Act. This provision would apply to requests made by 16-year-old disabled young people who are still at school or by their carers.