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Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefit Statistics on 7th March 1986.

Sir Frederic Bennett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest figures for the number of men aged 60 to 64 years, inclusive, who are currently unemployed and in receipt of unemployment benefit; and what is his estimate of the total cost to the Government.

Mr. Major At May 1985 there were 46,900 men aged 60 to 64 years in receipt of unemployment benefit. The estimated annual cost of this benefit for this group is £79.9 million at that date.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits (Advice and Information) on 7th March 1986.

Mr. Janner Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to make a statement on the outcome of the discussions between officials of his Department and interested groups relating to arrangements for the provision of localised information regarding the availability of advice and information about social security benefits.

Mr. Major Officials are considering comments received from interested groups and are examining the feasibility of procedural options. I shall write to the hon. and learned Member in due course.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Draught-Proofing on 7th March 1986.

Mr. Cartwright Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for single payments in respect of draught-proofing are currently outstanding at his Department’s Woolwich supplementary benefit office; and what action is being taken to reduce the backlog.

Mr. Major About 1,300 such claims are currently awaiting attention. Regional reserve staff are being assigned to Woolwich local office to assist with this work.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Retirement Age on 7th March 1986.

Mrs. Renée Short Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what factors his Department bases its conclusion that any change in respect of a flexible age of retirement would need to be phased in over 10 years.

Mr. Major The Department has no firm views on the length of time that would be needed, but certainly it would have to be sufficient to enable individuals affected to adjust their plans, and to enable occupational pensions schemes to make any necessary consequential adjustment. A period would also be needed to allow state earnings-related pensions to build up to ensure those retiring below the normal pension age had adequate pension provision.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioner Households on 7th March 1986.

Mr. Andrew Bowden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish estimates of the number of pensioner households who do not take up housing benefit to which they are entitled.

Mr. Major We expect to be able to publish estimates of take-up of housing benefit, based on the 1984 family expenditure survey, within the next two months.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on National Insurance Contributions on 6th March 1986.

Mr. Michael Forsyth Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the normal practice regarding reassessment of previous years’ liabilities under class 1 national insurance contributions, primary or secondary, where a Department of Health and Social Security inspector has re-classified a self-employed person as an employee under the terms of the Social Security Acts.

Mr. Major The normal practice is to assess earlier liability under class 1 when a person previously paying class 2 contributions is re-categorised as an employee. However, full account is taken of all the circumstances before a decision is made to require payment by the employer of any amount due. Rulings by the Department’s national insurance inspectors about liability to pay contributions, including rulings on the class of contributions due, are open to challenge by those affected if they wish, and then become questions for formal determination by the Secretary of State under section 93 of the Social Security Act 1975.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on School Leavers (Benefits) on 6th March 1986.

Mr. Wainwright Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate for the number of 1985 school leavers who had their benefit cut as a result of leaving YTS prematurely or refusing to take up a place on the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major It is not possible to distinguish between school leavers and others. The number of young people who had their supplementary benefit reduced because they had without good cause (a) refused, or (b) left prematurely, a place on the youth training scheme during the period 16 January 1985 to 14 January 1986 was: 338 and 5,427 respectively.