Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Christmas Bonus on 15th May 1986.

Ms. Richardson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those countries where the Christmas bonus is paid to people who are (a) there on holiday on the qualifying date or (b) ordinarily resident there on the qualifying date.

Mr. Major The Christmas bonus is payable to people in receipt of a qualifying benefit who are present or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom (which for this purpose includes Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar) or in any country of the European Community at any time during the qualifying week.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on War Widows on 14th May 1986.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations Her Majesty’s Government have received concerning the position of pre-1973 war widows in relation to their pension entitlement.

Mr. Major Representations are periodically received by this department and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, suggesting that pre-1973 war widows should be entitled to the Ministry of Defence pension currently paid only to widows of service men who served on or after 31 March 1973 and whose death was attributable to service.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the total cost of making available the Ministry of Defence pension to all war widows in addition to the Department of Health and Social Security pension.

Mr. Major I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence that the estimated cost at current rates is in the region of £200 million a year.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the total number of women who became war widows before 1973 in (a) the first world war, (b) the second world war, (c) the Korean war and (d) other conflicts.

Mr. Major The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Of the 65,000 war widows’ pensions in payment in December 1985, 8,000 were for service up to 30 September 1921 and 57,000 for service since 3 September 1939.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has concerning the numbers of war widows who are in receipt only of the Department of Health and Social Security pension.

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 Immigration Control Procedures on 12th May 1986.

Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance his Department provided to the Commission for Racial Equality with regard to its formal investigation into immigration control procedures s810.3 on liaison with other Departments.

Mr. Major None. I understand that the Home Office wrote in September 1983 to the commission providing information on liaison between itself and the Department.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Claimants (Camden) on 12th May 1986.

Mr. Dobson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for the latest available year (a) the number of disqualifications for unemployment benefit and (b) the number of deductions from supplementary benefit experienced by claimants in Camden on the ground of voluntary unemployment.

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 Rate Rebates on 12th May 1986.

Mr. Raynsford Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the local authorities in Great Britain in which (a) more than half and (b) more than a quarter of ratepayers receive 100 per cent. rate rebates.

Mr. Major I regret that this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Old Persons’ Homes on 12th May 1986.

Mr. Park Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total annual sum paid each year since 1980 to claimants in respect of residence and maintenance in old persons’ homes in Coventry.

Mr. Major I regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only by a special exercise which would be disproportionately expensive.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Statutory Sick Pay Scheme on 9th May 1986.

Mr. Janner Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans his Department has to review the operation of the statutory sick pay scheme since April 1983 in the light of the criticisms contained in the new report published by the Disability Alliance ERA, Leicester Rights Centre and the Leicester city council low pay campaign, copies of which were sent to him; and whether he will make a statement.

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