The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on British Business (United States Law) – 22 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on British Business (United States Law) on 22nd April 1986.

    Mr. Ashdown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on the acquisition for his Department’s use of computers and equipment supplied by companies which seek to impose, in the United Kingdom, extraterritorial United States controls on their United Kingdom staff or on non-Government United Kingdom customers or United Kingdom exports; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major I have nothing further to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 9 April at columns 118–119.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Housing Benefit Scheme – 21 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Housing Benefit Scheme on 21st April 1986.

    Mr. Pike Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes any changes in the administration of the housing benefit scheme.

    Mr. Major There are no plans to change the general arrangements under which local authorities are responsible for the administration of the housing benefits scheme. Minor changes to detailed procedures will always be necessary from time to time and a number of more significant changes will result from the Government’s plans for reforming the housing benefits scheme set out in the White Paper on the reform of social security (Cmnd. 9691).

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Staff – 21 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Staff on 21st April 1986.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown of the geographical deployment of the additional 5,000 staff which he recently announced.

    Mr. Major No decisions have yet been finalised but I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Driving Licences (Medical Refusals) – 21 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Driving Licences (Medical Refusals) on 21st April 1986.

    Mr. Madden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what rights to benefits exist for holders of heavy goods vehicle and public service vehicle licences whose licences are terminated for medical reasons; and if he will make a statement;

    (2) what rights holders of heavy goods vehicle and public service vehicle licences, whose licences are terminated for medical reasons, have to register for employment and receive unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major No specific benefits are available for holders of heavy goods vehicle and public service vehicle licences, whose licences are terminated for medical reasons. Incapacity benefits would be available where the person satisfied the usual criteria of incapacity. Alternatively, if such a person lost his employment he would be able to claim unemployment benefit in the usual way, subject to the normal conditions of being capable of and available for work.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit – 18 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 18th April 1986.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims to supplementary benefit have been registered by young people at school studying for examinations during the summer term.

    Mr. Major This information is not available. Other than in exceptional circumstances, young people who are still attending school, as opposed to those who have left but still have exams to take, are unlikely to qualify for supplementary benefit.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to produce an updated form FB20 on “Leaving School? A Pocket Guide to Social Security”.

    Mr. Major Leaflet FB20 is currently under review, and a revised version will be issued in due course.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many circulars outlining the rights of young people to supplementary benefit while they take their examinations have been produced following the commissioners’ decision on this subject; and to whom they have been sent.

    Mr. Major Two S circulars were issued following the commissioners’ decision on the entitlement of young people to supplementary benefit while they take their examinations. These circulars were sent in the normal way to DHSS local and regional offices, to the House of Commons Library, and to members of the public who subscribe to the S manual and circulars.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Small Businesses – 18 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Small Businesses on 18th April 1986.

    Mr. Watts Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of contracts placed by his Department with small businesses in each of the financial years since 1978-79; and what percentage of total expenditure on purchases of goods and services those amounts represented.

    Mr. Major I regret that information is not available in this form.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 18 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 18th April 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest estimate of the cost of payments made under the single payments regulations in 1985-86, and his estimate of the cost for 1986-87, taking into account the changes to be introduced to his new regulations.

    Mr. Major Figures for the full financial year 1985-86 are not yet available but expenditure for the period from 10 April 1985 to 11 March 1986 was £303 million.

    As announced on 24 February 1986 by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd) at columns 476-78, our proposals for amending the rules for single payments, which are currently being considered by the Social Security Advisory Committee, are intended to bring expenditure back to around the 1984 level.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figure for the average payment made under the single payments regulations for claimants taking up a new tenancy; and what he estimates will be average payment in 1987.

    Mr. Major The annual statistical inquiry contains information about the average amount of single payments for specific items but does not separately identify payments for furniture to those taking up tenancies for the first time. I regret therefore the information requested is not available.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Circulars (Copyright) – 18 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Circulars (Copyright) on 18th April 1986.

    Mr. Kirkwood Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 459, whether his Department is planning to put a cover charge on circulars; and what action he intends to take against people who breach copyright.

    Mr. Major There is no immediate intention to place a cover charge on health circulars issued by the Department of Health and Social Security. As regards action in breach of copyright cases, it could be for the Department to decide whether to proceed in any particular instance which in turn could consist of asking Her Majesty’s Stationery Office to deal with the offender on our behalf.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits – 17 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 17th April 1986.

    Mr. Wigley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the per capita expenditure on social security benefits in England in the last year for which figures are available;

    (2) what was the per capita expenditure on social security benefits in Wales in the last year for which figures are available;

    (3) what was the per capita expenditure on social security benefits in Scotland in the last year for which figures are available;

    (4) what is the number of claimants for each benefit administered by the Department of Health and Social Security in Wales;

    (5) how many people are entitled to each of the benefit payments available through the Department of Health and Social Security in Wales; and what is the level of take-up.

    Mr. Major I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit – 14 April 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 14th April 1986.

    Mr. Alton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid in housing benefit via local authorities to claimants during 1985.

    Mr. Major Information about housing benefit expenditure is available only on the basis of financial years. Latest estimates available from local authorities subsidy claims indicate that authorities paid £4.2 billion in housing benefit in the year ending 31 March 1985 and £4.6 billion in the year ending 31 March 1986.

    Mr. Alton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the administration of the housing benefit system.

    Mr. Major We believe that there is scope for improvement in the housing benefits scheme and its administration. Our proposals for reform include measures to simplify the system and to encourage and assist authorities to run the scheme as efficiently as possible.