Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on National Insurance Contributions on 26th January 1987.
Mr. Neil Hamilton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of abolishing employers’ national insurance contributions in all assisted regions.
Mr. Major I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Social Fund on 23rd January 1987.
Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of lack of legal cover for valid replacement of the current maternity and death grants, he will now withdraw the regulations covering the social fund.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made to the House yesterday.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 23rd January 1987.
Mr. Hancock Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people receiving supplementary pension have had their gas bills paid directly by his Department for each of the last three years ended on 31 March.
Mr. Major The information is as follows:
Year | Numbers
1982 4,000
1983 3,000
1984 5,000
The source of these figures is the annual statistical inquiry. The information relates to the number for whom these arrangements applied in December of each year and is the most recent available.
Mr. Hancock Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people receiving supplementary pension have had their electricity bills paid directly by his Department for each of the last three years ended on 31 March.
Mr. Major The information is as follows:
Year | Numbers
1982 | 6,000
1983 | 4,000
1984 | 5,000
The source of these figures is the annual statistical inquiry. The information relates to the number for whom these arrangements applied in December of each year and is the most recent available.
Mr. Hancock Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people receiving supplementary benefit have had either their gas or electricity bills paid directly by his Department for each of the last three years ended on 31 March.
Mr. Major The information is as follows:
Energy Type | 1982 | 1983 | 1984
Electricity | 120,000 | 140,000 | 150,000
Gas | 69,000 | 92,000 | 111,000
The source of these figures is the annual statistical inquiry. The information relates to the numbers for whom these arrangements applied in December each year and is the most recent available. Some people will have had both their electricity and gas paid direct and will therefore be included in both sets of figures.
Mr. Hancock Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there has been any change of policy in the last three years with regard to those receiving supplementary benefit or pension in respect of direct payment of gas and electricity bills or rent arrears; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Major Policy relating to the direct payment of gas and electricity for those receiving supplementary benefit is agreed by the industries concerned and the Department in the form of a joint statement of intent. This agreement has not been changed since 1982. There have been no policy changes in the arrangements for direct payment of rent arrears since the housing benefit scheme was introduced in 1982-83.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Unemployment Benefit on 23rd January 1987.
Mr. Ernie Ross Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what rate of benefit will be paid to those long-term unemployed persons who accepted a place on the new job training scheme and who are still unemployed at the end of their training course; and if the same rate will be paid to a claimant who leaves before completing six months under the scheme.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Paymaster General to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South West (Mrs. Bottomley) on 16 January 1987, at columns 334-35.
The rate of benefit an individual will receive as a result of these new arrangements will depend on his or her circumstances at the time. Subject to any other changes of circumstances, trainees will receive the same income by way of training allowance and supplementary benefit while on the course as they received previously in benefit alone. Those who do not find work after training and whose circumstances are unchanged will normally get the same rate of benefit that they received before they began the course. Trainees who leave the scheme early will similarly receive the same rate of benefit as was paid before the course.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Maternity and Death Grants on 22nd January 1987.
Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether it remains the Government’s intention to abolish maternity and death grants in April 1987;
(2) whether he has sought independent legal advice regarding the legality of the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 1986.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House today.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 22nd January 1987.
Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, on the basis of what precise section of primary or secondary legislation he decided that all persons in the relevant categories would receive a £5 exceptionally severe weather payment in the week 12–18 January.
Mr. Major [pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1987]: Exceptionally severe weather payments are made under the provisions of Regulation 26A of the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) Regulations 1981 (S.I. No. 1528) as amended by the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) Amendment Regulations 1986 (S.I. No. 1961).
As I made clear in my statement on Tuesday 13 January, it seemed highly probable at the time that all persons in the eligible groups would qualify for these payments in the week 12-18 January. In a certain number of areas, the qualifying temperature condition was not met. Payments in these areas were accordingly made on ex gratia basis with the consent of the Treasury and within the normal conventions for payments of this sort.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled People (Talks) on 22nd January 1987.
Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the issues discussed at and the outcome of the meeting at his Department on 21 January with organisations representing disabled people.
Mr. Major My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security and I had a constructive discussion with organisations representing disabled people across a wide range of issues concerning the effect of the social security reforms on disabled people. The disablement organisations have agreed to write to me setting out alternative proposals for the treatment of severely disabled people in the income-related schemes.
I have undertaken, without commitment, to consider their proposals carefully. I have arranged for officials of the Department to assess the effect of the proposals when they are received, in discussion with representatives of the disability organisations. I have made clear my willingness to discuss the matter further with the disability organisations when this evaluation is complete.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Severe Disability Premium on 22nd January 1987.
Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will define the term household for the purposes of eligibility for the severe disability premium; and if the presence of (a) an adult lodger or (b) an adult subtenant of the claimant will disqualify the claimant for the premium;
(2) if a disabled person receiving attendance allowance will be eligible for the severe disability premium if the only other adult member of the household is unable to provide assistance to that person on account of age or disability;
(3) if a disabled person receiving attendance allowance will be eligible for the severe disability premium for weeks in which the only other adult member of the household is absent from home;
(4) if the presence in the household of a student over 18 years in full-time education for whom no non-dependent deduction from housing benefit is currently made will disqualify a disabled person in receipt of attendance allowance from the severe disability premium;
(5) if a disabled person receiving attendance allowance will be eligible for the severe disability premium for weeks in which the only other adult member of the household has an infectious illness and would endanger the life of the disabled person if he or she provided the care and assistance required by that person.
Mr. Major I shall let the right hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled People (Domestic Assistance Addition) on 22nd January 1987.
Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 18 December, Official Report, column 706, if disabled people in receipt of the domestic assistance addition after April 1988 under the transitional protection will also be eligible for the severe disability premium.
Mr. Major Yes, although in calculating the need for transitional protection account will be taken of the severe disability premium when it is payable.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Mortgage Interest (Benefits) on 22nd January 1987.
Mr. Ralph Howell Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the total cost of mortgage interest payments to supplementary benefit recipients for each of the years 1979 to 1986; and if he will show the total number of claimants for each year.
Mr. Major Information is not available in the precise form requested. Mortgage interest payments have been collected as a separate item only since 1983. Cost estimates for previous years are based on owner-occupiers’ residual housing costs (that is after the deduction of rates, water rates, and repairs-insurance) and include an element for ground rent. The information available is as follows:
Year | Claimants | Total Cost (in £ million)
1979 | 98,000 | 31
1980 | 134,000 | 71
1981 | 196,000 | 124
1982 | 235,000 | 170
1983 | 242,000 | (1) 150
1984 | 277,000 | (1) 219
1985 (2)
1986 (2)
(1) Mortgage interest only.
(2) Information not yet available.