The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits (Payment) – 7 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits (Payment) on 7th February 1986.

    Mr. Patchett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he is having with the banks about the Government’s response to the recommendations of the 20th report of the Public Accounts Committee about switching benefit payments from post offices to banks; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major No such discussions are currently taking place. The position remains as described in the Government response to the Public Accounts Committee’s report.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Death Grant – 7 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Death Grant on 7th February 1986.

    Mr. Corbyn Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of claimants of funeral grant for each year since 1979 at the Highgate and Finsbury Park offices of his Department.

    Mr. Major The information relating to the number of claims to death grant received in the years from April 1980 to date is as follows; figures for the year commencing April 1979 are no longer available:

    Year | Highgate | Finsbury Park

    1980-81 | 1,327 | 947

    1981-82 | 938 | 882

    1982-83 | 1,256 | 1,108

    1983-84 | 1,109 | 1,028

    1984-85 | 1,116 | 883

    1985-86* | 1,311 | 716

    * To 14 January 1986.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit – 7 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 7th February 1986.

    Mr. Corbyn Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total number of claimants of housing benefit at his Department’s offices at Highgate and Finsbury Park for each year since the scheme was introduced.

    Mr. Major Housing benefit is administered by local authorities and it is therefore not possible to relate the case load to this Department’s local offices. Tables showing each local authority’s estimate of its rent rebate, rent allowance and rate rebate case load, for each year since the introduction of housing benefit, were placed in the Library last July following a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) on 19 July 1985, at column 305.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on War Pensions – 6 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on War Pensions on 6th February 1986.

    Mr. Pawsey Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the answer of 3 February, regarding disregard on war pensions, he will list those branches of the Royal British Legion which can readily be identified as having made representations on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Social Security Bill (Actuary’s Report) – 6 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Social Security Bill (Actuary’s Report) on 6th February 1986.

    Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in the Government Actuary’s report to the Social Security Bill 1986, Cmnd.9711, in table 5, page 14, what would be the estimated joint rates of contributions for each of the years stated if the assumptions included: (a) forecast growth of the economy of three per cent. per year, (b) growth in real earnings of three per cent. per year or (c) both these assumptions, whilst other assumptions in each case remained the same.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Pensions and Benefits (Payment) – 6 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensions and Benefits (Payment) on 6th February 1986.

    Mr. Crowther Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what areas recipients of pensions and other benefits have been offered financial inducements to change from payment through the Post Office network to payment through banks; and under what powers such offers are authorised.

    Mr. Major I understand that no such inducements have been offered.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit – 6 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 6th February 1986.

    Mr. Foulkes Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will state, for each of the following categories of supplementary benefit recipients, the numbers receiving laundry additions, the average amount received by each person and the total amount paid (a) pensioners aged 60 to 79 years of age, (b) pensioners aged 80 years and over, (c) disabled pensioners, namely, those receiving benefits related to disability or continuing incapacity, aged 60 to 79 years and (d) all other non-pensioner recipients;

    (2) if he will state, for each of the following categories of supplementary benefit recipients, the numbers receiving diet additions, the average amount received by each person and the total amount paid (a) pensioners aged 60 to 79 years, (b) pensioners aged 80 years and over, (c) disabled pensioners, namely, those receiving benefits related to disability or continuing incapacity, aged 60 to 79 years and (d) all other non-pensioner recipients;

    (3) if he will state, for each of the following categories of supplementary benefit recipients, the numbers receiving heating additions, the average amount received by each person and the total amount paid (a) pensioners aged 60 to 79, (b) pensioners aged 80 years and over, (c) disabled pensioners, namely, those receiving benefits related to disability or continuing incapacity, aged 60 to 79 years and (d) all other non-pensioner recipients.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Guardian’s Allowance – 5 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Guardian’s Allowance on 5th February 1986.

    Mr. Watts Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice his Department gives to people seeking to claim guardian’s allowance as to the practical steps which should be taken to satisfy the requirement of section 38(2)(b) of the Social Security Act 1975.

    Mr. Major The conditions for entitlement to guardian’s allowance are set out in leaflet NI 14 which is available from local social security offices. It is for the independent adjudicating authorities to decide if a person claiming the allowance has taken all reasonable steps to trace a missing parent. The steps which must be taken to trace a missing parent depend entirely on the circumstances of the case and no guidance has been issued.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Low Income Families – 4 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Low Income Families on 4th February 1986.

    Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing families and persons, as in table 6 of “Low Income Families 1981”, but including Northern Ireland in the figures and updating them to 1983.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Special Claims Control Officers – 3 February 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Special Claims Control Officers on 3rd February 1986.

    Mr. Eastham Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many special claims control officers have been posted to the Manchester, Cheetham office of his Department; what is the anticipated period of these inquiries; what will be the cost of these inquiries; if all claimants being interviewed will be advised of their rights; and if he will issue a statement as to their findings.

    Mr. Major A visit to the Manchester (Cheetham) office by a team of four specialist claims control officers started on 27 January and is due to finish on 11 April: the cost of the exercise is not yet known. The officers are instructed to advise fully all claimants of their rights.