The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 17th July 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for (a) maternity expenses, (b) redecoration, (c) beds, (d) bedding and (e) cookers were disclosed in his survey of Scottish single payment applications on 2 July.

    Mr. Major The special count made on 2 July was solely of the number of people whose single payment claims were being processed in local offices in Scotland. Further details, such as the item claimed, were not recorded.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 17th July 1986.

    Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what percentage of council tenants receive housing benefit distinguishing between those below and those above retirement age.

    Mr. Major There were an estimated 3.8 million council tenants, of whom 2.1 million were over pension age, receiving housing benefit in autumn 1985. They represented about 64 per cent. and 36 per cent. respectively of all council tenants.

    Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Raynsford), 23 May, Official Report, columns 386-90, if he will publish fresh figures for benefit entitlement taking into account entitlement to family income supplement and family credit.

    Mr. Major I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Attendance Allowance – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Attendance Allowance on 17th July 1986.

    Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were receiving attendance allowance (a) at the higher rate, and (b) at the lower rate, at the latest date for which information is available.

    Mr. Major At 31 March 1985, the latest date for which information is available, an estimated 222,000 people were receiving the higher rate of attendance allowance and 321,000 the lower rate.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits (Northern Ireland) – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits (Northern Ireland) on 17th July 1986.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of claimants who move between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom in any one year giving the size of the flow each way and the numbers claiming the long-term rate of benefit.

    Mr. Major I regret that the information on which a reasonable estimate could be based is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit – 16 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 16th July 1986.

    Mr. Faulds Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Warley, East constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department over the same period.

    Dr. McDonald Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Thurrock in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change that represents;
    (2) what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff at the local offices of his Department in Thurrock over the same period.

    Mr. Major I shall let the hon. Members have replies as soon as possible.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Fraud – 16 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Fraud on 16th July 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff are currently involved in fraud work in Scotland.

    Mr. Major 417 staff have been allocated to undertake fraud work in Scotland in 1986-87.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Unemployed Claimants – 16 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Unemployed Claimants on 16th July 1986.

    Mr. Deakins Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed claimants in Brighton and Leicester, respectively, received help with mortgage interest payments in each year from 1979.

    Mr. Major Information in the form requested is not available.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 16 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 16th July 1986.

    Mr. Clelland Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what methods are adopted by assessment officers in his Department to comply with the requirements of paragraph 5(3) of single payments circular S36/85.

    Mr. Major It is usually the practice for local offices to make inquiries about the prices at which items of reasonable quality are available at shops in the areas in which their claimants are likely to shop. A list of guide prices based on these enquiries is compiled in accordance with circular S36/85 which offices are advised to keep under regular review: the prices of individual items should be reviewed if at any time it becomes apparent that suitable items are no longer available at the guide price. Adjudication officers are also advised that the guide price should not automatically be used as the maximum for any item and that they should carefully consider reasons put forward by the claimant as to why a higher amount may be appropriate in an individual case.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Family Income Supplement – 16 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Family Income Supplement on 16th July 1986.

    Dr. McDonald Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average family income supplement payment made to (a) couples, (b) single parents and (c) other family income recipients.

    Mr. Major At the end of March 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, the average weekly payments made to families receiving family income supplement were:

    Family Size | Average weekly payment (in £)

    2-parent families | 12.60
    1-parent families | 14.20
    All families | 13.30

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Captain Balnave – 15 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Captain Balnave on 15th July 1986.

    Mr. Hancock Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when his Department will expedite the payment to Captain Balnave of 23 Malvern Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, awarded to him on appeal.

    Mr. Major [pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1986, c. 171]: Captain Balnave’s appeal was successful in establishing entitlement to a war pension for an additional disablement. A medical board is being arranged to advise on the assessment of the level of disability so that payment can be made at the appropriate rate as quickly as possible.