The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioner Incomes – 2 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioner Incomes on 2nd March 1987.

    Mr. Christopher Hawkins Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the change in pensioners’ incomes in real terms in the periods 1974 to 1979 and 1979 to the latest available date.

    Mr. Major The total average net incomes of pensioners increased by 0.6 per cent. a year in real terms between 1974 and 1979, and by 2.7 per cent. a year from 1979 and 1985, the latest available date.

    (Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1974, 1979, 1985)

    Note: FES figures based on “tax units” which may represent either single pensioners or married couples.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits – 2 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 2nd March 1987.

    Mr. Ralph Howell Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the saving if no social security, housing, or welfare benefits other than child benefit were paid to any single person whose income was more than £65 per week and to couples married or otherwise whose income was more than £130 per week.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled People (Discrimination) – 2 March 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled People (Discrimination) on 2nd March 1987.

    Mr. Wareing Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expenditure has been incurred by his Department since November 1983 in discouraging discrimination against disabled people.

    Mr. Major It is not possible to isolate expenditure for this purpose from that on other aspects of disability.

    The Government’s policy is to promote the integration of disabled people by increasing public awareness of their problems and abilities and by breaking down the barriers they often face. This is reflected in a whole range of activities carried out not only by Government Departments and other statutory authorities but also in the support the Government give to disability organisations in the voluntary sector.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement – 27 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 27th February 1987.

    Mr. Patrick Thompson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when awards of family income supplement will terminate as a result of the introduction of the provisions of the Social Security Act 1986.

    Mr. Major I have today laid regulations’ providing for awards of FIS to terminate not later than 11 April 1988, when it is proposed that the new Family Credit scheme should take effect under the Social Security Act 1986. Transitional arrangements for existing FIS recipients will be made under separate regulations to be made under that Act. A commencement order for the relevant provisions of the 1986 Act will be introduced in due course.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments – 27 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity Payments on 27th February 1987.

    Mr. Skinner Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for maternity allowance have been made in the county of Derbyshire at the latest available date.

    Mr. Major In the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, the following number of claims to maternity allowance were made at the Department’s offices which cover the county, although the boundaries are not conterminous:

    Area |Number
    Derby (London Road) | 1,551
    Derby (Beckett Street) | 1,233
    Derby (Heritage Gate) | 1,071
    Chesterfield | 1,860
    Ilkestone | 928

    Mr. Garrett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in North Tyneside 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 number of claims to maternity allowance were made at the Department’s offices which cover North Tyneside although the boundaries are not conterminous:

    Area | Number
    Newcastle (East) | 983
    Wallsend | 624
    North Shields | 807

    Mr. Lofthouse Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley 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 Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley although the boundaries are not conterminous:

    Area | Number
    Pontefract | 658
    Castleford | 784

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 27 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 27th February 1987.

    Mr. Flannery Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single payments for maternity items were made to women in Sheffield in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major I regret that the information requested is not collected by individual local offices and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Christmas Bonus – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Christmas Bonus on 26th February 1987.

    Mr. Christopher Hawkins Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since its introduction (a) the value of the Christmas bonus for pensioners and (b) the cumulative increase in the retail price index.

    Mr. Major The level of the Christmas bonus has been £10 in each year since its introduction in 1972, except in 1975 and 1976 when it was not paid. The cumulative percentage increase in the retail price index for each year since December 1972 is shown in the table.

    December | %
    1973 | 10.6
    1974 | 31.7
    1975 | 64.5
    1976 | 89.3
    1977 | 112.3
    1978 | 130.1
    1979 | 169.8
    1980 | 210.6
    1981 | 248.0
    1982 | 266.8
    1983 | 286.3
    1984 | 304.0
    1985 | 327.0
    1986 | 342.9

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Fund – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Fund on 26th February 1987.

    Dr. Godman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the change in expenditure by his Department from the introduction of the social fund in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Greenock and Port Glasgow; how many payments he estimates will be made from this fund in each of the three; and what is the estimated average amount of payment.

    Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) 23 February at column 123.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 26th February 1987.

    Dr. Godman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Greenock and Port Glasgow currently receive family income supplement; what is the average weekly sum received by each family; and how many children in these families are entitled to free school meals as a result.

    Mr. Major I regret that information is not available relating to Strathclyde nor to Greenock and Port Glasgow. However, in Scotland at April 1986, the latest date for which information is available, there were a total of 24,000 families in receipt of family income supplement and the average weekly amount in payment was £13–50. The number of school age children, all those over five years, was 33,000 and they would be eligible for free school meals.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Credit – 26 February 1987

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Credit on 26th February 1987.

    Dr. Godman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of families in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Greenock and Port Glasgow who will be entitled to receive family credit; how many of them will be entitled to continue receiving free school meals; and what is the likely take-up of this award in each of the three above.

    Mr. Major I regret that it is not possible to make reliable estimates on such a localised basis. Overall, family credit is expected to reach about double the number of families now helped by family income supplement. This is consistent with a take-up rate of 60 per cent. Only families receiving income support will be entitled to free school meals, but the rates of family credit will be set at a higher level so as to give extra cash help instead.