Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Rail Electrification, published on 2nd February 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive proposals from British Railways for the electrification of the east coast main line from King’s Cross.
Mr. David Howell I hope soon to receive proposals for electrification of the first stage of the east coast main line as well as a 10-
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Vacant Dwellings (London), published on 28th January 1982.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the figure announced by the Under-
Sir George Young The figure of 32,814, to which my hon. Friend refers, relates to the total number of vacant local authority dwellings at 1 April 1981 in those London authorities which have more than 3 per cent. of their stock empty. The number of local authority dwellings empty in the whole of London at 1 April 1981 was 38,439.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary question on Housing Starts, from 20th January 1982.
Mr. Thomas Cox Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) council and (b) private houses are now under construction in the Greater London Council area.
Sir George Young About 13,000 local authority and 14,300 private dwellings were under construction in London at the end of September 1981.
Mr. Cox Is the Minister aware that those figures are an appalling indictment of two and a half years of Tory Government? In view of the enormous housing problems in London, why cannot the Government start to put into employment the thousands of building workers whom they forced to go on to the dole and get the local authorities to start to tackle these problems? The hon. Gentleman knows that they have to be tackled. Surely now is the time to start doing it.
Sir George Young I hope that the hon. Gentleman will get some comfort from the fact that private sector housing starts in London in the third quarter of 1981 were nearly double the number in the comparable period of 1980. The 1982-
Mr. Major To put the matter in context, how many council houses in Greater London are empty and have been empty for many months?
Sir George Young Our latest figures show that there are 32,814 local authority dwellings empty in London.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Banking Act 1979, published on 22nd December 1981.
Mr. Major Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out the present provisions leading to an issue of a licence under the Banking Act 1979; and if he is satisfied that the procedures are sufficient to safeguard the private investor.
Mr. Bruce-
I am satisfied that the procedures under the Banking Act provide sufficient safeguards for depositors.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Self-
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is his intention to make changes in the rules relating to the issue of medical certificates for short periods of illness.
Mr. Fowler For a number of years doctors have complained about the 3 million medical certificates which they issue each year for illnesses lasting a week or less. Many are given for ailments such as the common cold, flu, or backache for which both patient and doctor know nothing can be done except rest. Doctors’ surgeries can thus be cluttered up with people for whom no medical treatment is necessary, thereby reducing the time given to patients really needing care.
Following discussions with the British Medical Association and both sides of industry, I have decided that from next June general practitioners will no longer be required to issue statements for social security purposes on a patient’s incapacity for work where the illness lasts for a week or less. This will help to reduce the pressure on doctors’ surgeries and enable them to provide a better service for people requiring medical advice or treatment.
My Department will make available special forms to enable people to claim benefit during short illnesses. There will also be alternative arrangements to check on people who make frequent claims for short spells.
It is my intention that self-
The necessary amending regulations will be laid before the House as soon as possible and the social security advisory committee will be consulted.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Company Liquidations, published on 18th December 1981.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects the Insolvency Law Review Committee to report upon whether company liquidations should be subject to regulation.
Mr. Eyre The final report of the insolvency law review committee under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Cork is expected early next year and will be published. The question of the extent to which regulation is necessary in voluntary liquidations has been given much attention by the committee. In the light of such recommendations as the committee may make and the ensuing public debate, the Government will be better able to determine what steps are necessary and desirable.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Licensed Dealers, published on 18th December 1981.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to publish his proposals for amending the Licensed Dealers (Conduct of Business) Rules.
Mr. Eyre My Department will be writing to the representative bodies of the securities industry in the next few days outlining its proposals. We aim to publish draft regulations by the end of February.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Defence Policy, published on 20th November 1981.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the assertions contained in the publication of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament entitled “Nuclear War and You”, a copy of which is now in his possession, he will publish for the use of the general public a factual pamphlet on Government defence policy, their desire for multilateral disarmament, and the role envisaged for ground launched cruise missiles with particular reference to the way in which their dispersal at Molesworth and Greenham Common will affect the local population.
Mr. Blaker The CND brochure to which my hon. Friend has referred contains a number of serious factual errors and misrepresentations. With regard to the Government’s defence policy, there is a range of official publications explaining this policy, including the role of nuclear weapons, which is available to the general public. Government policy is set out in detail in the annual Statement on the Defence Estimates –
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Youth Opportunities Programme, published on 18th November 1981.
Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the average delay between applications by employers to take part in the youth opportunities programme and approval of their schemes; and if he has plans to speed up this process.
Mr. Alison The average delay between sponsors’ applications and the approval of schemes is now about four weeks. The commission has temporarily transferred staff from its employment service to help with backlogs of applications, and I am satisfied that this measure will be effective in reducing delays.
A Rayner scrutiny of the commission’s special programmes procedures at regional and area offices has recently been completed and the recommendations in the report –
Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on PAYE, published on 16th November 1981.
Mr. Major Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will institute an independent investigation into the proposed timetable for the computerisation of the PAYE system.
Mr. Ridley Independent expert advice was obtained on the plans for the computerisation of PAYE. The most recent independent advice on the timetable is that it is adequate but tight. I do not see that a further review now would serve any useful purpose.