The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Low Income Families – 18 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Low Income Families on 18th July 1986.

    Dr. McDonald Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish a table showing for 1983 (a) the numbers of families with one, two, three, four or more children living below, at, and up to 140 per cent. of the supplementary benefit level on the latest basis and a basis comparable with 1981 and 1979, (b) how many of these families were in work or out of work and (c) the total number of families with one, two, three, four or more children, on the same basis as his reply of 16 May 1985 to the hon. Member for Thurrock, Official Report, column 224;
    (2) if he will provide a breakdown from the low income families 1983 table of the main reasons for people falling below the supplementary benefit level on the same basis as his reply of 14 December 1983 to the hon. Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams), Official Report, column 517;
    (3) how many children were living in families below supplementary benefit level, on supplementary benefit, with incomes up to 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit level, classified by employment status, and whether they were in one- or two-parent families in 1983 on the latest basis and on a basis comparable with 1981 and 1979; and what proportion these children make up of the total number of children.

    Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams) on 8 July at column 157. When the tables are published, I will then be in a position to reply to the hon. Member’s questions.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Maternity Allowance – 18 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Maternity Allowance on 18th July 1986.

    Mr. Clay Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the gross and net cost of increasing the single person’s rate of maternity allowance by £7.35.

    Mr. Major The cost of increasing the basic rate of maternity allowance by £7.35 per week would be about £47 million in a full year, with a saving of about £2 million on supplementary benefit expenditure. If the increase was confined to single women only, the cost would be about £6 million.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments – 18 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 18th July 1986.

    Dr. Godman Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many exceptionally severe weather payments were made for the month of February in England and Wales; what was the average payment; and what was the total amount paid to claimants;
    (2) how many exceptionally severe weather payments were made for the month of February in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland; what was the average payment; and what was the total amount paid to claimants in (i) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Scotland.

    Mr. Major The information is not yet available. When the period during which payments are likely to be made is over, local offices will be asked to make a return so that the number of payments and amounts paid can be calculated.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Mobility Allowance – 18 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Mobility Allowance on 18th July 1986.

    Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were receiving mobility allowance at the latest date for which information is available.

    Mr. Major The figure was 434,000 as at 11 July 1986.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit – 18 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 18th July 1986.

    Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claimants are estimated to be eligible for severe disablement allowance, but do not claim it.

    Mr. Major I regret that reliable estimates are not available.

    Mr. Tom Cox Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Tooting constituency in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff in his Department’s local offices for the same period.

    Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Manchester, Wythenshawe constituency and the city of Manchester, respectively, in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change the figures represent; and what were the percentage changes in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at his Department’s local offices for the same period.

    Mr. Geoffrey Robinson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Coventry, North-West constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staffing handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department over the same period.

    Mr. Major I shall let the right hon. and hon. Members have replies as soon as possible.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of the Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits from 17 July 1986.

    Sir Brandon Rhys Williams asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the lion. Member for Kensington on 9 June, Official Report, column 85, if he will publish the new estimates of unclaimed housing benefit, supplementary benefit, family income supplement and one-parent benefit as soon as they become available.

    Mr. Major The new estimates of unclaimed benefits will be published as soon as possible

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 17th July 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for (a) maternity expenses, (b) redecoration, (c) beds, (d) bedding and (e) cookers were disclosed in his survey of Scottish single payment applications on 2 July.

    Mr. Major The special count made on 2 July was solely of the number of people whose single payment claims were being processed in local offices in Scotland. Further details, such as the item claimed, were not recorded.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 17th July 1986.

    Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what percentage of council tenants receive housing benefit distinguishing between those below and those above retirement age.

    Mr. Major There were an estimated 3.8 million council tenants, of whom 2.1 million were over pension age, receiving housing benefit in autumn 1985. They represented about 64 per cent. and 36 per cent. respectively of all council tenants.

    Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Raynsford), 23 May, Official Report, columns 386-90, if he will publish fresh figures for benefit entitlement taking into account entitlement to family income supplement and family credit.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Attendance Allowance – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Attendance Allowance on 17th July 1986.

    Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were receiving attendance allowance (a) at the higher rate, and (b) at the lower rate, at the latest date for which information is available.

    Mr. Major At 31 March 1985, the latest date for which information is available, an estimated 222,000 people were receiving the higher rate of attendance allowance and 321,000 the lower rate.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits (Northern Ireland) – 17 July 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits (Northern Ireland) on 17th July 1986.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of claimants who move between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom in any one year giving the size of the flow each way and the numbers claiming the long-term rate of benefit.

    Mr. Major I regret that the information on which a reasonable estimate could be based is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.