Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on “Not a Penny to Call My Own” on 19th November 1986.

Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration his Department has given to the report on poverty in mental illness and mental handicap hospitals entitled “Not a Penny to Call My Own”, published by the King’s Fund and Disability Alliance, a copy of which has been sent to him; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major We are currently studying the report and I shall write to the right hon. Member very shortly.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled Persons on 19th November 1986.

Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has received from councillor Neil J. Kearney of the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea concerning discrimination by the council against residents with disabilities; what action is being taken; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major I have received a letter from Councillor Neil J. Kearney of the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea alleging discrimination by the council against disabled residents. Although the question of parking spaces for disabled people is a matter for the local authority concerned, I have asked officials to send a copy of Councillor Kearney’s letter to the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea asking for their comments.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Population Statistics on 18th November 1986.

Mr. Barry Jones Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families in Wales have incomes below the tax threshold; and what proportion of these are working families.

Mr. Major I regret that the statistics cannot be broken down reliably in the manner requested.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Jobstart Allowances on 18th November 1986.

Mr. Frank Cook Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether people who accept low paid employment with the intention of applying for jobstart allowances, but who are subsequently refused the allowance, are liable to have their supplementary benefit reduced under regulation 8 of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations if they leave the job as a result of being refused the jobstart allowance; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Major In law, a person who voluntarily leaves a job without just cause is disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit for up to 13 weeks. Any supplementary benefit that he may be entitled to is reduced under regulation 8 of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations for the same period. Whether a person has just cause for leaving his employment is a question for the independent adjudication authorities who have regard to any reasons that the person advances. Whether refusal of jobstart allowances was just cause for leaving a job would be decided by those authorities in the circumstances of the individual case.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Unemployed Persons (Cost) on 18th November 1986.

Mr. Cohen Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost in benefits and lost tax and national insurance payments of those who are currently unemployed.

Mr. Major The cost of paying benefit to unemployed people in 1986-87 is estimated to be £6,750 million. Of that total £1,150 million represents housing benefit, a benefit which can continue to be paid to people who are in work. It is not possible to make a sensible estimate of the revenue, including national insurance contributions, forgone because of the number of variables that could affect this.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Social Security Expenditure on 17th November 1986.

Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a table setting out social security expenditure (a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of total public expenditure, (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product, (d) showing the real-terms percentage increase on the previous year and (e) the percentage of the real-terms increase spent on (i) increased numbers of claimants, (ii) real-terms increase in benefit levels and (iii) new benefits or extension of eligibility for each year from 1979-80 to 1986-87, including the autumn statement projections.

Mr. Major I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on JE Hanger (Dismissals) on 17th November 1986.

Mr. Nellist Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are now known to be affected by the dismissal of workers at J. E. Hanger, artificial limb makers.

Mr. Major Of the 58 postponed appointments at Roehampton several have now been reinstated and we are taking urgent action in respect of the remainder. However, I am concerned that other patients may be facing delays due to the interruption in the delivery of artificial limbs and we are actively examining this matter with the company. I should add that the great bulk of the service is being maintained and there were some 21,000 patient attendances for prosthetic services at the 30 artificial limb and appliance centres in England between 13 September 1986 and 7 November 1986.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Strikers (Supplementary Benefit) on 7th November 1986.

Mr. Henderson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the deduction from the supplementary benefit payable for the dependants of strikers will be increased at the time of the uprating of benefits in April 1987.

Mr. John Major The deduction will not be increased on this occasion and will therefore remain at £17.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Christmas Bonus on 7th November 1986.

Mr. Andrew Bowden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects that the date of payment of the Christmas bonus for retired pensioners for 1987 and subsequent years will be announced.

Mr. Major It is planned to pay the Christmas bonus for 1987 and future years on the pension pay day in the week beginning with the first Monday in December (Schedule 6, paragraph 1(3) of the Social Security Act 1986 refers).

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Statutory Sick Pay on 6th November 1986.

Mr. Stern Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will announce the rates of statutory sick pay that will apply from April 1987.

Mr. Major Regulations will shortly be laid before Parliament proposing new rates of statutory sick pay with effect from 6 April 1987. The standard rate will rise from £46.75 to £47.20 per week, and will be payable where an employee’s average weekly earnings are £76.50 or more. The lower rate will rise from £31.60 to £32.85 and will be payable where average weekly earnings are between £39 (the lower earnings limit for the payment of national insurance contributions) and £76.49. These represent increases in the rates of 1 per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively. At present 85 per cent. of spells of SSP attract the standard rate with the remaining 15 per cent. being split between the middle and lower rates. Having two rates of SSP applicable to only 15 per cent. of spells of sickness overcomplicates the administration of SSP for employers and does not provide a sensible structure.

We propose, therefore, to merge the present middle rate of SSP with the lower rate with effect from 6 April 1987. All recipients of the middle rate at that date will continue to get the current rate of £39.20 until their spell of sickness ends or they reach their maximum entitlement to SSP, whichever is sooner. Following the merger between the two rates, the lower rate is being increased by 1.2 per cent. more than would have been required under a straight prices uprating. Statutory maternity pay will also be set at this higher level on its introduction in April 1987. The regulations bringing these changes in will be subject to affirmative resolution of both Houses.