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Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Cookers (Single Payments) on 5th March 1986.

Mr. Tony Lloyd Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has issued to local offices of his Department about guidelines issued to claimants of single payments concerning reconditioned and new cookers; if he has expressly forbidden the use of maximum prices in such guidelines; if he will indicate the circumstances under which a single payment would be given for a new cooker; if he will indicate what he considers to be a reasonable distance for claimants to travel to seek suitable reconditioned cookers; and if local offices issue lists of firms which supply reconditioned cookers.

Mr. Major The matters raised are dealt with in the guidance contained in circular S36/85, a copy of which I sent to the hon. Member under cover of my letter of 11 November 1985. Copies of the circular are also in the Library. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd) on 24 February, at columns 476-78, announcing the reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee for consultation of proposals for changes to the single payment regulations which would, among other changes, introduce a standard sum for cookers.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioner Households on 4th March 1986.

Mr. Andrew Bowden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioner households receiving (a) certificated housing benefit and (b) standard housing benefit are subject to non-dependant deductions.

Mr. Major Precise information is not available, as these details are not collected centrally. Our estimates suggest that there are about 180,000 pensioner households receiving certificated housing benefit, and 270,000 pensioner households receiving standard housing benefit, from which a deduction is made in respect of non-dependants.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Legal Proceedings on 4th March 1986.

Mrs Renée Short Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of legal proceedings have been instituted by private citizens against his Department during the last seven years.

Mr. Major Information regarding the number of cases of legal proceedings instituted by private citizens against the Department in England and Wales during the last seven years is not readily available prior to 1985, and the cost of obtaining the information would be disproportionate.

Since the beginning of 1985 476 such cases (embracing applications for judicial review in the High Court, appeals to the Court of Appeal from decisions of social security commissioners, actions by way of writ in the High Court, county court actions and originating applications to industrial tribunals) have been counted. It is not possible to give precise figures because the conduct of litigation commenced against the Department is shared by the solicitor’s office to the Department and Treasury Solicitor and there is no central point of control.

The figures do not include applications for leave to appeal and appeals to the Court of Appeal by private citizens against the decisions of the social security commissioners where the Secretary of State for Social Services was not a party. I have asked my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to let the hon. Member have the information relating to Scotland, which is a separate jurisdiction.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Staff on 4th March 1986.

Mrs. Renée Short Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the total number of staff employed by his Department are women; how many of them are employed on a part-time basis; and how many are not eligible for an occupational pension.

Mr. Major As at 1 January 1986 it is estimated that just over 63 per cent. of the Department’s staff were women. It is further estimated 3,880 women were employed on a part-time basis on the same date. Most, if not all of them, work 15 hours a week or more and are therefore within the scope of the occupational pension scheme. The exact figure is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Precise figures on the number of women employed are collected annually and are available in May of each year.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Correspondence on 3rd March 1986.

Mr. Mason Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he is going to answer the letters from the right hon. Member for Barnsley, Central dated 25 November 1985 and 22 January 1986 asking him to conduct an inquiry into the dismissal of Mr. J. Brown from the social security appeal tribunals.

Mr. Major I wrote to the right hon. Member on 7 January in reply to his letter of 25 November. I regret that we have no record of having received his letter of 22 January, but if he would like to write to me again I will see that his letter receives immediate attention.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioner Households on 3rd March 1986.

Mr. Andrew Bowden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners in receipt of supplementary benefit are classified as householders, and how many as non-householders.

Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friend to table 5.1 of the “Annual Statistical Enquiry 1983”, a copy of which is in the Library.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Local Adjudication Officers on 28th February 1986.

Mr. Ewing Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether local adjudication officers are required to reside in the area for which they have responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major Adjudication officers in local social security offices are not required to reside in the area for which they have responsibility but they do, of course, work in offices in or very near to the area served by their particular local office.

Below is the text of the Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit from 28 February 1986.

Mr. Watts asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount of housing benefit paid to single supplementary benefit claimants in Slough (a) for furnished accommodation and (b) for local authority accommodation.

Mr. Major I regret that this information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hancock asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of domestic ratepayers in Portsmouth receive housing benefit.

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 Single Payments on 27th February 1986.

Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for the most recent month for which information is available, (a) the number of single payment awards as a rate per 1,000 claimants; and (b) the average single payment to (i) persons under pension age not required to register for work, (ii) persons under pension age required to register for work and (iii) persons over pension age, for each social security office.

Mr. Major [pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986, c. 365]: I have arranged for this information to be placed in the Library.