The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Christmas Bonus – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Christmas Bonus on 26th February 1987.

    Mr. Christopher Hawkins Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since its introduction (a) the value of the Christmas bonus for pensioners and (b) the cumulative increase in the retail price index.

    Mr. Major The level of the Christmas bonus has been £10 in each year since its introduction in 1972, except in 1975 and 1976 when it was not paid. The cumulative percentage increase in the retail price index for each year since December 1972 is shown in the table.

    December | %
    1973 | 10.6
    1974 | 31.7
    1975 | 64.5
    1976 | 89.3
    1977 | 112.3
    1978 | 130.1
    1979 | 169.8
    1980 | 210.6
    1981 | 248.0
    1982 | 266.8
    1983 | 286.3
    1984 | 304.0
    1985 | 327.0
    1986 | 342.9

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Fund – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Fund on 26th February 1987.

    Dr. Godman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the change in expenditure by his Department from the introduction of the social fund in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Greenock and Port Glasgow; how many payments he estimates will be made from this fund in each of the three; and what is the estimated average amount of payment.

    Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) 23 February at column 123.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 26th February 1987.

    Dr. Godman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Greenock and Port Glasgow currently receive family income supplement; what is the average weekly sum received by each family; and how many children in these families are entitled to free school meals as a result.

    Mr. Major I regret that information is not available relating to Strathclyde nor to Greenock and Port Glasgow. However, in Scotland at April 1986, the latest date for which information is available, there were a total of 24,000 families in receipt of family income supplement and the average weekly amount in payment was £13–50. The number of school age children, all those over five years, was 33,000 and they would be eligible for free school meals.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Credit – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Credit on 26th February 1987.

    Dr. Godman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of families in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Greenock and Port Glasgow who will be entitled to receive family credit; how many of them will be entitled to continue receiving free school meals; and what is the likely take-up of this award in each of the three above.

    Mr. Major I regret that it is not possible to make reliable estimates on such a localised basis. Overall, family credit is expected to reach about double the number of families now helped by family income supplement. This is consistent with a take-up rate of 60 per cent. Only families receiving income support will be entitled to free school meals, but the rates of family credit will be set at a higher level so as to give extra cash help instead.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments – 25 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments on 25th February 1987.

    Mr. Raynsford Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Fulham claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.
    The Fulham constituency is covered by the Department’s offices at Chelsea and Kensington although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. Claims for these offices are dealt with at Aldershot out-station. A total of 3,085 maternity grant claims were dealt with at that office during the 1986 calendar year but this number includes claims proper to other offices.

    Mr. Raynsford Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Hertfordshire, West received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,135 claims to maternity allowance were made at Hemel Hempstead, the Department’s office which covers the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.

    Mr. Ray Powell Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Ogmore constituency claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.
    The Ogmore constituency is covered by the Department’s local offices at Bridgend and Rhondda West and their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims for maternity grant received at those local offices during the 1986 calendar year was as follows:

    Office | Number
    Bridgend | 1,787
    Rhondda West | 860

    Mr. Ray Powell Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Ogmore constituency received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,217 claims to maternity allowance were made at Bridgend and 434 claims at Rhondda West, the Department’s offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.

    Mr. Flannery Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which of the items previously included as essential under the single payment regulations will not be included in the new maternity payment.

    Mr. Major No items are specifically excluded. Recipients of the new maternity payment will be free to spend the money as they wish.

    Mr. Ashton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Bassetlaw constituency claimed maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the Social Fund after April 1987, assuming that the number of births remains constant.

    Mr. Major Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.
    The Bassetlaw constituency is covered by the Department’s local office at Worksop, although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims for maternity grant received at the Worksop local office during the 1986 calendar year was 1,476.

    It is not possible to predict how many women will qualify for a maternity payment from the Social Fund after April 1987.

    Mr. Ashton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Lincoln constituency claimed maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women are expected to qualify for maternity payment from the Social Fund after April 1987, assuming that the number of births remains constant.

    Mr. Major Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.
    The Lincoln constituency is covered by the Department’s local offices at Lincoln (Orchard Street) and Lincoln (Newland), although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims for maternity grant received at the 2 Lincoln local offices during the 1986 calendar year were as follows:

    Office | Number
    Lincoln (Orchard Street) | 2,004
    Lincoln (Newland) | 1,254

    It is not possible to predict how many women will qualify for a maternity payment from the Social Fund after April 1987.

    Mr. Ashton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Nottingham claimed maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the Social Fund after April 1987, assuming that the number of births remains constant.

    Mr. Major Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.

    However, the number of claims for maternity grant received at the Department’s four Nottingham local offices during the 1986 calendar year were as follows:

    Office | Number
    Nottingham (Castle Gate) | 1,486
    Nottingham (David Lane) | 1,749
    Nottingham (Shakespeare Street) | 1,830
    Nottingham (Station Street) | 2,340

    It is not possible to predict now many women will qualify for a maternity payment from the Social Fund after April 1987.

    Dr. Gilbert Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Dudley received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,593 claims to maternity allowance were made at Dudley North and 1,057 claims at Dudley South, the Department’s offices which cover Dudley, although the boundaries are not conterminous.

    Dr. Gilbert Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Dudley claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.
    However, the number of claims for maternity grant received at the Department’s Dudley local offices during the 1986 calendar year was as follows:

    Office | Number
    Dudley North | 2,555
    Dudley South | 1,616

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits – 25 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 25th February 1987.

    Mr. Carter-Jones Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether the supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance for people living in residential care homes includes a specific allocation towards each of the following (i) day care, (ii) purchase of clothing and (iii) holidays;
    (2) if he is planning to introduce any extra financial help to people receiving supplementary board and lodging allowance in residential care homes;
    (3) how any specific allocations within the supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance for people living in residential care homes are determined;
    (4) when he is planning to announce the next increase in supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance for people living in residential care homes.

    Mr. Major The supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance for people in residential care homes contains no specific allocations for particular items of expenditure.

    Proposals for increases in benefits for people in homes were announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 12 February at column 362.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Security Act 1986 – 24 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Security Act 1986 on 24th February 1987.

    Mr. Ashley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from voluntary organisations concerning implementation of the Social Security Act of 1986; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major The Social Security Act 1986 was passed by Parliament on 25 July 1986 after 230 hours of debate. The Act was the culmination of two and a half years of intense review and discussion.

    Four thousand five hundred organisations and individuals accepted an invitation to comment. Nineteen public sessions were held by Ministers with 62 organisations and individuals contributing.

    The Green Paper “Reform of Social Security” (Cmnd. 9518) received over 7,000 responses. Before and after publication of the subsequent White Paper (Cmnd. 9691) in December 1985 proposals were discussed with many welfare and voluntary organisations and representatives of industry (this included the Child Poverty Action Group, Age Concern, the Disablement Income Group, the Equal Opportunity Commission, the Confederation of British Industry and the Trade Union Council).

    More recently Ministers have met representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group, National Council for One Parent Families, Age Concern, Youthaid, Cleveland Welfare Rights and the Union Coalition for Social Security to discuss specific issues. Discussions are currently under way with the local authority associations on draft housing benefit regulations; with the Association of County Councils on the Social fund and with major pension interests on changes relating to pensions.

    Since the autumn of last year, Ministers have attended outside engagements or held meetings with many interested organisations. Examples of these are the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Child Poverty Action Group, the Spastic Society, Age Concern, the Personal Finance Editors Association, the Confederation of British Industry, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmens and Families Association and the National Association of Pension Funds.

    We have received substantial, and diverse representations on the implementation of the legislation. The consultations we have fully entered into reflect the importance of the subject.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the McColl Report – 24 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the McColl Report on 24th February 1987.

    Mr. Hannam Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on any implementation of the recommendations of the McColl report.

    Mr. Major As I said during the debate in the House on 17 February at column 796, I hope to announce decisions on some of the central recommendations of the McColl report very shortly.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Medical Practitioners (Fees) – 24 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Medical Practitioners (Fees) on 24th February 1987.

    Mr. Holt Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been paid to medical practitioners for services in examining claimants for (a) mobility allowance and (b) attendance allowance in each of the past 15 years. comparable at 1985 prices.

    Mr. Major The available information is in the table. Comparable information is not available for earlier years. All figures are at 1985 prices.

    Total paid in respect of claims to: (a) Mobility allowance (in £) | (b) Attendance Allowance (in £)
    1981-82 | 2,519,415 | 5,369,717
    1982-83 | 2,964,121 | 7,194,835
    1983-84 | 3,547,567 | 7,709,134
    1984-85 | 4,770,862 | 8,701,248
    1985-86 | 4,459,386 | 9,391,078

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments – 23 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 23rd February 1987.

    Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Tottenham Department of Health and Social Security office has refused to accept a bulk claim for severe weather payments for the week 12 to 18 January inclusive from the Broadwater Farm neighbourhood office on behalf of pensioners over 65 years and families with children under the age of two years on supplementary benefit living within the London borough of Haringey; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major [pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1987 c. 89]: Supplementary benefit claims, including single payment claims, are normally accepted from a third party only where it has been confirmed both that the claimant is unable to act on his own behalf and that the third party is able to act for him.

    A bulk claim would not enable all potential beneficiaries to be correctly identified, nor would it contain all the necessary information to establish entitlement.

    The Department’s Tottenham local office could not, therefore, accept a bulk claim for exceptionally cold weather payments on behalf of residents of the London borough of Haringey. Instead, the office agreed to accept a list of names and addresses of potential claimants and to send each of them an invitation to claim.

    The office received the list on 2 February 1987 and invitations to claim were issued on 10 February 1987.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications in (a) Scotland and (b) Britain for severe weather payment have come from persons not on supplementary benefit; and what proportion of these are now being processed with a view to checking entitlement to supplementary benefit.

    Mr. Major [pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1987, c. 341]: Information on the number of exceptionally cold weather claims received from people not on supplementary benefit is not available.

    People who fail to qualify for a cold weather payment because they are not in receipt of benefit are given a full explanation of why payment has been refused, with advice on how to go about claiming supplementary benefit.