The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Fund – 10 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Fund on 10th March 1987.

    Mr. Ron Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether each local office will have a budget for the social fund; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major We intend to issue separate budgets to individual local social security offices for social fund payments (other than those for maternity and funeral expenses). Decisions on the size of such budgets, and of the fund as a whole, will be taken nearer the time of the fund’s full introduction in April 1988.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Unisex Annuities – 10 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Unisex Annuities on 10th March 1987.

    Mr. Watts Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the proposed requirement for unisex annuities.

    Mr. Major We published draft regulations on 17 December 1986 which included a requirement on insurers to offer men and women on equal terms the annuities that will correspond to the state additional pension for people with personal or money purchase occupational pensions. Comments on this proposal range from strong support to equally strong criticism.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioners (Single Payments) – 10 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioners (Single Payments) on 10th March 1987.

    Mr. Dubs Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners on supplementary benefit are ineligible for single payments because they possess £500.

    Mr. Major The latest available information comes from the November 1984 annual statistical inquiry which shows that about 560,000 supplementary pensioners had capital over £500. However, claimants who have savings over £500 are not necessarily excluded from single payments as part payments can be made for the difference between the cost of the item and the amount of capital in excess of £500.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Over-80s (Pension) – 10 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Over-80s (Pension) on 10th March 1987.

    Mr. David Atkinson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to seek to bring the over- 80s into the state retirement pension scheme.

    Mr. Major People aged over 80 are not excluded from the state retirement pension scheme. Contributory pensions are payable for life, and non-contributory pensions are payable to those people over 80 who either have no entitlement to a contributory pension or whose rate of pension is below the level of the over-80s non-contributory pension. Eligibility for this non-contributory benefit is based on a residence test. There are no plans to alter these arrangements.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments – 10 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 10th March 1987.

    Mr. Andrew Bowden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to make any further changes regarding payment of the severe weather heating allowance; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 3 February at column 557.

    Mr. Flannery Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications for the extra heating allowance for cold weather have been received; and how many people have received payment.

    Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) and the hon. Member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald) earlier today.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioners (Income) – 10 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioners (Income) on 10th March 1987.

    Mr. Wood Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the change in pensioners’ average income over the period 1979 to 1985; and how this compares with that from 1974 to 1979.

    Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hawkins) on 2 March at column 497.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Pensions – 10 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensions on 10th March 1987.

    Mr. Leigh Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the extent to which pensions have kept pace with inflation since 1979.

    Mr. Major The level of retirement pension prevailing for most of 1979 was determined by the uprating of social security benefits in November 1978. Between November 1978 and July 1986 (the latest uprating) the retail price index rose by 90 per cent. and the state retirement pension rose by 98.5 per cent. for a single person and 98.6 per cent. for a married couple.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments – 9 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 9th March 1987.

    Mr. Kirkwood Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the operation of this year’s severe weather payment scheme; and whether he is able to estimate the level of uptake of this year’s scheme.

    Mr. Major We are satisfied that the new rules for exceptionally cold weather payments are simpler and easier to understand and that as a result of widespread publicity more people have been helped this winter and payments have been made far more quickly than under any previous system of exceptionally severe weather payments. It is not yet possible to make an estimate of take-up among eligible groups.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants have now received £10 severe weather payments in Scotland.

    Mr. Major Information is not available in the form requested.

    Up to 3 March 1987 some 285,000 £5 exceptionally cold weather payments were made in Scotland.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 9 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 9th March 1987.

    Mr. Buchan Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy of his Department towards refusing single payment for a cooker, under regulation 30, on the grounds that the applicant does not require hot food; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major Regulation 30 provides that a single payment can be made if it is the only means of preventing serious risk to the health or safety of a member of the assessment unit. Whether a payment can be made in an individual case is a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities.

    Guidance on the application of regulation 30 is issued by the chief adjudication officer in paragraphs 7521-7586 of the S manual and paragraph 19 of circular S20/86 – copies of which are in the Library. These advise that serious risk can be assumed if there are no cooking facilities and there are children under two in the assessment unit, or hot meals are medically essential to a member of the assessment unit. Whether the absence of cooking facilities in other circumstances constitutes a serious risk will depend on the facts of the particular case.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments – 9 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments on 9th March 1987.

    Dr. Bray Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Motherwell, South received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information is not available in the form requested. But in the twelve months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, the following numbers of claims to maternity allowance were made at the Department’s offices which cover Motherwell South, although the boundaries are not conterminous:

    Area | Number
    Motherwell | 600
    Hamilton | 1,239
    Wishaw | 465

    Mr. Litherland Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Manchester, Central received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major Information is not available in the form requested. But in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, the following numbers of claims to maternity allowance were made at the Department’s offices which cover Manchester, Central constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous:

    Area | Number
    Manchester, Central | 191
    Openshaw | 790
    Failsworth | 1,003
    Longsight | 524
    Cheetham | 651