Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Gypsy Rose Quinn on 16th June 1986.

Mr. Clay Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information was given to the press by his Department concerning the benefits case of Gypsy Rose Quinn prior to 17 May.

Mr. Major Requests for information were received from the press following Mrs. Quinn’s appearances at the Birmingham magistrates court on 27 March 1986 and at the Birmingham Crown court on 16 May 1986. The information given was restricted to confirming factual details of the offences with which Mrs. Quinn had been charged.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 16th June 1986.

Mr. Hancock Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for severe weather payments were made in 1985 and 1986 to date in his Department’s office in Portsmouth; and how many claims were successful.

Mr. Major Separate information on the number of claims for exceptionally severe weather payments is not collected, but a total of 861 payments were made by the Portsmouth local office in 1985. Information for 1986 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 total number of payments made can be calculated.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Social Security (Hippies) on 13th June 1986.

Mr. McCrindle Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has any plans to set up a register of social security claims by hippies;

(2) what evidence he has of duplicate social security claims by hippies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major The Department’s Wales and southwestern region has set up an index of supplementary benefits claims made by large groups of nomadic claimants. This is a fraud prevention device which helps to confirm their identity when, in the course of their travels, they make claims in different offices. The index has been used in handling claims from members of the hippy convoy. Similar action will be taken in other areas if appropriate. A number of claims have been refused because officials were not satisfied with evidence of identity produced by the claimants, and some claims which appear to be fraudulent are being investigated with a view to prosecution if appropriate.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Private Residential Homes on 13th June 1986.

Mrs. Dunwoody Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the maximum levels of benefit payable in respect of individuals in a private residential home for (a) the elderly, (b) the mentally ill and (c) the mentally handicapped.

Mr. Major The maximum amounts of supplementary benefit payable to people in private residential homes are set out in Schedule 1A to the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations 1983 as amended.

For claimants in residential care homes the limits for old age, mental illness and mental handicap are £120, £130 and £150 respectively.
For claimants in nursing homes, these same limits are £170, £180 and £200.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Small Businesses on 12th June 1986.

Mr. Ashdown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those measures introduced within his Department within the past year and intended to be of benefit to small businesses.

Mr. Major As part of the Government’s initiative to encourage enterprise and to help businesses, particularly small businesses, the Department has set up a deregulation unit. The unit works closely with the enterprise and deregulation unit in the Department of Employment and co-ordinates action within the Department to explore ways of assisting business and easing any burdens imposed by compliance with regulations or administrative, requirements. The unit is currently systematically reviewing all regulations for which the Department is responsible which impact on business to ensure that any unnecessary burdens are removed. Full details of the Government’s action in this area are given in “Building Businesses … Not Barriers” (Cmnd. 9794).

Specific measures likely to benefit small businesses include:

– the October 1985 package of changes in the national insurance contributions payable by employers produced net savings for employers of £80 million a year at 1985-86 rates. Reductions in the contributions paid by employers in respect of employees earning less than £130 a week at 1985-86 rates (£140 a week in 1986-87) should particularly benefit small businesses;
– the Class 2 contribution payable by the self-employed was also reduced in October from £4.75 per week to £3.50. Even with the April 1986 increase the Class 2 contribution is still £1 less than it was a year ago.
– since October 1985 it has been easier for the newly self-employed on low earnings to claim exemption from Class 2 national insurance contributions. New follow-up procedures should also ensure that those with continuing entitlement to do so receive exemption for succeeding years.
– closer liaison between DHSS and Inland Revenue is helping to avoid duplicate visits to employers by Inspectors from both Departments. Arrangements are being improved to ensure greater consistency of decisions (which arc taken on the basis of the same case law) about whether someone is self-employed. Proposals in the Social Security Bill for increased exchange of information should assist this liaison;
– proposals in the Social Security Bill to remove the odd pence in the NI Contribution tables from April 1987 by using earnings bands of £1 instead of the present 50p bands. This should considerably reduce the size of, and simplify the tables.
– enquiries of employers about their employees’ earnings are being reduced in number, and ways will continue to be sought to reduce them further. For example, Local Offices arc being asked to consider making greater use of the P60 annual statement rather than direct approach to the employer. Proposals in the Social Security Bill to simplify the awarding of special hardship allowance will cut enquiries to employers by up to 200,000 a year.
– the Department has introduced a number of simplifications to leaflets, instructions and forms used by employers. Design and layout of publications is being improved. One example is the new style Employers Guide to Statutory Sick Pay (October 1985 edition). The Department has also used market research to seek the views of small businesses on improvements to the design and layout of National Insurance Contribution tables.
– some local offices have set up specific inquiry points for employers and the Department is considering whether the setting up of such points in each local office would be helpful.
– a number of other initiatives have been taken locally, for example, new employers in the Isle of Dogs Enterprise Zone were visited in order to offer help and advice.

We continue to be firmly committed to better regulation and exploring ways to assist small business men and encourage enterprise.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 12th June 1986.

Mr. Wigley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if women being rehoused from refuges will retain their rights to single payments for all their household needs in the regulations coming into force this summer.

Mr. Major The proposals to change the Single Payment Regulations, which were referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee on 24 February 1986, include a revised list of individual furniture items; the introduction of miscellaneous lump-sum payment for other household needs; and revised qualifying conditions for the receipt of such payments. Neither the current nor proposed regulations make any specific reference to women being rehoused from refuges. Such women will continue to be entitled to a payment where they satisfy the conditions in the regulations.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 12th June 1986.

Dr. McDonald Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the latest estimate of the number of claims for family income supplement made by (a) couples, (b) single parents and (c) all family income supplement claimants.

Mr. Major For the 12-months period up to the end of March 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 393,000 claims to family income supplement. I regret it is not possible to separate the figures for couples and single parents.

At the same date 201,000 families were actually receiving family income supplement, 118,000 couples and 83,000 single parents.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Appeals Tribunals (Chairmen) on 12th June 1986.

Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a list of chairmen of social security appeal tribunals and the areas in which they sit.

Mr. Major This is a matter for the President of social security appeal tribunals, his Honour Judge Byrt, QC, and the hon. Member may care to approach him.