The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: 1979-1983 Parliament

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on the Docklands Land Board – 28 March 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Docklands Land Board, published on 28th March 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take about the Docklands Land Board, in view of the proposal to repeal the Community Land Act.

    Mr. King With the agreement of the Greater London Council and all the London boroughs concerned, my right hon. Friend has made an order dissolving the Docklands Land Board with effect from 1 April 1980. The board’s responsibilities, assets and liabilities are being transferred to constituent authorities.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on the Housing Investment Programmes – 26 March 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on the Housing Investment Programmes, published on 26th March 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total and percentage underspend under the housing investment programme allocations in each financial year between 1975-76 and 1978-79.

    Mr. Stanley The information is as follows. Figures are shown at outturn prices for the year in question.

    1975-76 – £42.3 million (11.9 per cent.)

    1976-77 – £97.7 million (15.7 per cent.)

    1977-78 – £31.8 million overspend (1.5 per cent.)

    1978-79 – £291.4 million (11.7 per cent)

    Allocations for 1975-76 were for improvement of local authority dwellings only. Those for 1976-77 included in addition lending to private persons. Allocations for 1977-78 and 1978-79 related to total local authority housing investment. The system of local housing strategies and investment programmes (HIP’s) was introduced for the year 1978-79.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Cambridgeshire (Parliamentary Constituencies) – 25 March 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Cambridgeshire (Parliamentary Constituencies), published on 25th March 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the recommendations of the Boundary Commission for parliamentary constituencies within the county of Cambridge.

    Mr. Brittan I understand that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England is likely to have completed its task of reviewing all the parliamentary constituencies, including those in Cambridgeshire, by early 1982.

  • Mr Major’s Written Question on Cambridgeshire (Boundary Commission Review) – 25 March 1980

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Cambridgeshire (Boundary Commission Review), published on 25th March 1980.

    Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Local Government Boundary Commission to complete its review of the county of Cambridge; and whether this date will enable its recommendations to be implemented prior to the 1981 county elections.

    Mr. Whitelaw The Local Government Boundary Commission for England cannot begin its electoral review of the county of Cambridgeshire until orders have been made providing new electoral arrangements for every district in the county. As the Commission has not yet submitted to me its report proposing new electoral arrangements for the district of East Cambridgeshire, I cannot say when the order implementing the Commission’s proposals for that district, with or without modifications, will be made or whether the Commission’s review of the county will have been completed in time for its recommendations to be implemented for the 1981 elections.

  • 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.