The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • Mr Major’s Written Question on the Money Supply and Inflation – 19 March 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding capital punishment, made on 19th March 1980.

    Mr. Major asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of the money supply as measured by M1 and M3 definitions, respectively, and of the rate of inflation as measured by the retail price index for each separate year from 1970 to 1979.

    Mr. Lawson I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Consumers and Traders – 3 March 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding Consumers and Traders, made on 3rd March 1980.

    Mr. Major asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will consider consolidating some or all of the statutory rights and obligations of consumers and traders, in the interests of greater coherence and convenience.

    Mr. Eyre We shall continue to consolidate legislation affecting consumers and traders whenever this is appropriate.

  • Mr Major’s Intervention during Local Government Expenditure Debate – 27 February 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s interventions during the Local Government Expenditure debate held on 27th February 1980.

    Mr. Major asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of local government revenue expenditure was accounted for by staff wages and salaries as at (a) the financial year 1973–74 and (b) the latest date for which information is available.

    Mr. Heseltine In 1973–74 wage and salary costs accounted for just over 50 per cent. of gross local government revenue expenditure of 71 per cent. of gross current expenditure. In 1978–79, the figures were 51 per cent. and 69 per cent. respectively.

    Mr. Major I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that it indicates an imperative need to continue to restrain staff levels and levels of wage settlements in local government? Will he urge on local authorities, wherever possible, a policy of retrenchment in staffing levels to ensure that the money available is used for services rather than excessive staffing?

    Mr. Heseltine I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing these important points to the attention of the House. I have asked local authorities to constrain manpower recruitment wherever possible. I am absolutely sure that, in the present climate of public expenditure, the more that the available resources can be used to provide services rather than increase the number of employees the better.

    Mr. Ian Lloyd May I endorse the plea made by my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Major)? Is my right hon. Friend aware that in my local authority the increase in the wage and salary component last year was 39 per cent.? If that is 39 per cent. of 70 per cent., how can it possibly be said that local councillors are effectively in control of finances in their authority?

    Mr. Heseltine The present levels of rate fixing indicate that there are considerable numbers of Conservative authorities that are very much in control and therefore able to effect considerable constraint in the rate levels. It must be a matter for the individual judgment and accountability of the local authority and its councillors in each area.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Members (Pay and Allowances) – 22 February 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Members (Pay and Allowances), published on 22nd February 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, pursuant to his answer of 23 November to the hon. Member for Huntingdonshire, he can yet indicate when the report of the Top Salaries Review Body on the secretarial allowance to hon. Members is expected to be available.

    Mr. St. John-Stevas I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 14 February 1980. – [Vol. 978, c. 1767.]

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Sugar- 22 February 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Sugar, published on 22nd February 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his present policy in relation to the production of home-grown sugar beet; and if the policy adopted by the previous Administration as set out in the White Paper “Food from Our Own Resources” is still the policy of Her Majesty’s Government.

    Mr. Buchanan-Smith Many circumstances have changed since that White Paper was published, but the economic case for expansion of United Kingdom sugar beet production remains strong. That is why my right hon. Friend has made it clear that we cannot accept the EEC Commission’s present proposals for an unjustified and discriminatory cut in the United Kingdom maximum quota.

    Mr. Major Asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to conclude an agreement with our EEC partners for the sugar review 1980 to 1985.

    Mr. Buchanan-Smith We recognise the importance for beet growers of removing the uncertainty about the sugar arrangements to apply from 1 July 1980. My right hon. Friend has pressed for the speedy agreement of equitable arrangements satisfactory to the United Kingdom. The Council will be discussing this further at its meeting on 3-4 March.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on the Country Landowners Association – 14 February 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Country Landowners Association, published on 14th February 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Country Landowners Association.

    Mr. Wiggin My right hon. Friend meets the president of the CLA frequently, but has no plans to do so at present.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Benefits Fraud – 13 February 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Benefits Fraud, published on 13th February 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further action he is taking against social security fraud and abuse.

    Mr. Prentice: Efforts to control fraud and abuse have been inadequate for several years. Excellent work has been done by the staff working on these problems, but their numbers are insufficient. The main problems are people who work but purport to be unemployed, people who avoid taking work or mis-state their assets, income or family circumstances, and people who evade their responsibilities for maintaining their wives and children. We have insisted that the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse should be given higher priority, and despite our general policy of reducing staff numbers we are providing the extra staff needed to boost prevention and detection efforts. Another 1,050 – 450 this financial year and 600 next – are being deployed on this work. They will include a further 470 staff, doubling the existing number, to work on unemployment review in relation to supplementary benefit claims, and a further 60 who will work on unemployment benefit claims in co-operation with the Department of Employment. There will be an extra 170 liable relative officers and a further 270 fraud specialists. Special arrangements have been made to monitor the results of this extra effort. We estimate that the savings from it in 1980–81 may total £50 million.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Local Authorities Expenditure – 30 January 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Local Authorities Expenditure, published on 30th January 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the result of his consultations over local authority capital expenditure controls.

    Mr. John Townend Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the local authority associations regarding capital expenditure controls.

    Mr. Heseltine A consultation paper outlining the proposed capital expenditure controls was sent to the local authority associations on 27 October 1979. I have met the leaders of the local authority associations, and officials have also met to discuss the proposals. In the light of these discussions revised proposals have been incorporated in the Local Government Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill, and a further explanatory paper has now been sent to the local authority associations.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Insolvency – 29 January 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Insolvency, published on 29th January 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether Sir Kenneth Cork, GBE, is conducting an inquiry into the law relating to insolvency; if so, when he expects to receive this report; and whether the committee has been directed especially to consider the provisions of section 66(1) of the Bankruptcy Act 1914.

    Mr. Eyre Yes. The Insolvency Law Review Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Cork, GBE, was appointed in January 1977 to review the law and practice relating to insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidations and receiverships in England and Wales and to consider what reforms are necessary.

    On present information the committee is expected to report towards the end of 1980. The whole question of interest in insolvencies, including interest on debts under section 66 of the Bankruptcy Act 1914, is being considered by the committee.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on the Wildlife and Countryside Bill – 22 January 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Wildlife and Countryside Bill, published on 22nd January 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to place the Wildlife and Countryside Bill before Parliament.

    Mr. Heseltine Due to pressure on parliamentary time, the introduction of the Wildlife and Countryside Bill has had to be postponed. I intend to introduce the Bill, however, as soon as parliamentary time permits.

    Mr. Marks Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his consultations on the Wildlife and Countryside Bill; and if the Bill will be introduced in the present Session.

    Mr. Monro As my right hon. Friend said in his reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Major), the introduction of the Wildlife and Countryside Bill has had to be postponed. This will provide an opportunity for further consultations on some of the proposals. My right hon. Friend intends to introduce the Bill as soon as parliamentary time permits.