The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single payments are made for sums of less than £30.

    Mr. Major The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments and Heating Additions – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments and Heating Additions on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what he estimates he will spend on single payments in 1985-86, 1986-87, and 1987-88; and if he will publish a table showing the real value of single payments in these years compared with 1984-85;

    (2) what he estimates he will spend on heating additions in the years 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88; and if he will publish a table showing the real value of heating additions in these years compared with 1984-85.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Furniture Grants – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Furniture Grants on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide the latest figures available for the number of single payments made for furniture in the course of a year, the average payment made, the total expenditure on furniture grants and a breakdown of the categories of claimants who receive them.

    Mr. Major The latest available information is contained in table 19.2 of the Annual Statistical Inquiry 1983, a copy of which is in the Library. It should be noted that the table relates to single payments made during the 12 months preceding the date of the inquiry to persons still in receipt of supplementary benefit at the time of the inquiry and does not, therefore, record all the single payments made during the year.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Mrs. Gladys Smith – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Mrs. Gladys Smith on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will be replying to the letter written to him on 18 September 1985 about Mrs. Gladys Smith, Silverdale nursing home, Egerton Park, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, and about which a reminder was sent on 22 November 1985.

    Mr. Major I wrote to the hon. Member earlier today.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Maternity Grant – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Maternity Grant on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Ashley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current value of the maternity grant in real terms compared with its value in 1969.

    Mr. Major On the basis of the movement of the retail prices index, the current value of the maternity grant is £4.60 compared with its value in November 1969.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement – 22 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 22nd January 1986.

    Mr. John Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many employees in agriculture receive family income supplement; and what percentage this is of the total employed work force in agriculture.

    Mr. Major At June 1985, the latest date for which information is available, there were about 8,000 families in receipt of family income supplement where the head was employed in agriculture. This represents about 2.5 per cent. of the total employed work force in agriculture.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Mr. David Galloway – 21 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Mr. David Galloway on 21st January 1986.

    Mr. Tony Lloyd Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the necessary papers concerning Mr. David Galloway’s appeal against the decision of the adjudication officer at the Chorlton office of his Department have now been sent to the Social Security Appeal Tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major The decision against which Mr. Galloway appealed was reviewed in his favour on 13 January by the adjudication officer and full arrears of benefit were paid on that day. As a result of the revision of the decision, the appeal has been superseded.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits – 21 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 21st January 1986.

    Mr. Thurnham Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received advocating withdrawal of benefits from school leavers who refuse all types of employment, or places on the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major We are not aware of any recent representations advocating the withdrawal of entitlement to both benefits in these circumstances.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on DHSS Local Offices (Birmingham) – 20 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on DHSS Local Offices (Birmingham) on 20th January 1986.

    Mr. Rooker Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit single payments were made by the local offices in Walsall road and Soho road, Birmingham in 1985; and if he will give figures for payments (a) less than £50, (b) £50 to £100, (c) £100 to £500, (d) £500 to £1,000, (e) £1,000 to £1,500 and (f) over £1,500.

    Mr. Major During the year ending on 17 December 1985, the latest date for which information is available, the Birmingham (Perry Barr) office made 10,433 single payments and the Birmingham (Handsworth) office made 24,650 single payments.

    Information about the individual value of those payments is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement – 20 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 20th January 1986.

    Mr. Prescott Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of regular family income supplement payments in the north-west; and what proportion of the eligible population this represents.

    Mr. Major At 29 October 1985, the latest date for which information is available, there were 36,000 families in receipt of family income supplement (FIS) in the north-western social security region, which covers Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and part of Derbyshire.

    It is not possible to estimate what proportion of the eligible population in the area this represents but the estimate of take-up of FIS in Great Britain as a whole is about half.

    Mr. Latham Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to give extra publicity to the new levels of family income supplement, in view of the incorrect figure published in existing child benefit books.

    Mr. Major The main purpose for including a slip in child benefit order books is to make recipients aware of the existence of family income supplement and one-parent benefit and to refer them to leaflets and posters which can be seen at post offices and local social security offices. Both the leaflets and posters on display do publicise the correct current rates of benefit. The outdated order book slips will be replaced by the end of this month with slips giving current rates. I regret that it was not possible to insert them in child benefit order books earlier.