The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: 1983-1987 Parliament

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement – 27 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 27th January 1986.

    Mr. Madden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide detailed information about the numbers of people, in each of the last three years, living in Bradford, in receipt of family income supplement; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major I regret that this information is not available. Family income supplement claims are dealt with by one centre at Blackpool and no information is maintained about claims from particular local areas.

    Mr. Marlow Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the number and percentage of teachers in receipt of family income supplement.

    Mr. Major I regret that this information is not available. Teachers are included for family income supplement statistical purposes in a general group which covers administrative, social, professional and technical workers and a breakdown by individual occupation is not possible.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Leeds (Rothwell Office) – 27 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Leeds (Rothwell Office) on 27th January 1986.

    Mr. O’Brien Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he will take to prevent additional expense falling on claimants in the Rothwell area of Leeds arising from the need to travel to Leeds, following the closure of the Rothwell office of his Department.

    Mr. Major A caller office will be open for inquiries at Rothwell during normal office hours. For those needing to travel to Leeds, the Department’s standard rules for refunding travelling expenses will apply. Where it would be difficult for a person to travel to Leeds, for instance because of sickness or disability, a home visit may be made.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit – 27 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 27th January 1986.

    Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of local authorities in which more than 50 per cent. of ratepayers are receiving housing benefit which meets 100 per cent. of their rates liability; and if he will name these authorities.

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

    Mr. McCrindle Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it has been decided that the whole of the annuity in home income plans is to be treated as income for the purposes of housing benefit entitlement; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major The current guidance to local authorities, consolidated in a manual issued last summer, reflects the legal advice we have received on how life annuities and home income plans should be treated when assessing entitlement to housing benefit.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on War Disablement Pensions – 27 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on War Disablement Pensions on 27th January 1986.

    Dr. McDonald Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants there have been for war disablement pensions arising from exposure to mustard gas in World War 2 since 1975, giving in each case (a) the date of application and (b) when the information concerning exposure to mustard gas became available.

    Mr. Major The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit – 20 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 20th January 1986.

    Mr. Walters Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received any representations from individuals seeking to reveal the addresses of supplementary benefit claimants for the purpose of private litigation to recover outstanding debts.

    Mr. Major Requests of this kind have been received from time to time. For reasons of preserving confidentiality, addresses of claimants are not provided to other individuals for the purpose of pursuing private litigation in which the Department does not have a direct interest.

    Mr. Walters Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek powers to introduce a scheme whereby his Department deducts specific amounts from supplementary benefit claimants who have changed addresses and cannot be traced by individual creditors.

    Mr. Major We have no present plans to do so.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Local Offices – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Local Offices on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Spearing Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will tabulate for each of his offices in Greater London for the years 1980 and 1985 (a) the numbers of staff, (b) persons in receipt of supplementary benefit and (c) the approximate percentage of (b) arising from retirement pensioners and others, respectively.

    Mr. Major [pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1986, c. 740]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single payments are made for sums of less than £30.

    Mr. Major The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments and Heating Additions – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments and Heating Additions on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what he estimates he will spend on single payments in 1985-86, 1986-87, and 1987-88; and if he will publish a table showing the real value of single payments in these years compared with 1984-85;

    (2) what he estimates he will spend on heating additions in the years 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88; and if he will publish a table showing the real value of heating additions in these years compared with 1984-85.

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

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Furniture Grants – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Furniture Grants on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide the latest figures available for the number of single payments made for furniture in the course of a year, the average payment made, the total expenditure on furniture grants and a breakdown of the categories of claimants who receive them.

    Mr. Major The latest available information is contained in table 19.2 of the Annual Statistical Inquiry 1983, a copy of which is in the Library. It should be noted that the table relates to single payments made during the 12 months preceding the date of the inquiry to persons still in receipt of supplementary benefit at the time of the inquiry and does not, therefore, record all the single payments made during the year.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Mrs. Gladys Smith – 23 January 1986

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Mrs. Gladys Smith on 23rd January 1986.

    Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will be replying to the letter written to him on 18 September 1985 about Mrs. Gladys Smith, Silverdale nursing home, Egerton Park, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, and about which a reminder was sent on 22 November 1985.

    Mr. Major I wrote to the hon. Member earlier today.