Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Maternity Grant on 23rd January 1986.
Mr. Ashley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current value of the maternity grant in real terms compared with its value in 1969.
Mr. Major On the basis of the movement of the retail prices index, the current value of the maternity grant is £4.60 compared with its value in November 1969.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 22nd January 1986.
Mr. John Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many employees in agriculture receive family income supplement; and what percentage this is of the total employed work force in agriculture.
Mr. Major At June 1985, the latest date for which information is available, there were about 8,000 families in receipt of family income supplement where the head was employed in agriculture. This represents about 2.5 per cent. of the total employed work force in agriculture.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Mr. David Galloway on 21st January 1986.
Mr. Tony Lloyd Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the necessary papers concerning Mr. David Galloway’s appeal against the decision of the adjudication officer at the Chorlton office of his Department have now been sent to the Social Security Appeal Tribunal; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Major The decision against which Mr. Galloway appealed was reviewed in his favour on 13 January by the adjudication officer and full arrears of benefit were paid on that day. As a result of the revision of the decision, the appeal has been superseded.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 21st January 1986.
Mr. Thurnham Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received advocating withdrawal of benefits from school leavers who refuse all types of employment, or places on the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Major We are not aware of any recent representations advocating the withdrawal of entitlement to both benefits in these circumstances.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on DHSS Local Offices (Birmingham) on 20th January 1986.
Mr. Rooker Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit single payments were made by the local offices in Walsall road and Soho road, Birmingham in 1985; and if he will give figures for payments (a) less than £50, (b) £50 to £100, (c) £100 to £500, (d) £500 to £1,000, (e) £1,000 to £1,500 and (f) over £1,500.
Mr. Major During the year ending on 17 December 1985, the latest date for which information is available, the Birmingham (Perry Barr) office made 10,433 single payments and the Birmingham (Handsworth) office made 24,650 single payments.
Information about the individual value of those payments is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Family Income Supplement on 20th January 1986.
Mr. Prescott Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of regular family income supplement payments in the north-
Mr. Major At 29 October 1985, the latest date for which information is available, there were 36,000 families in receipt of family income supplement (FIS) in the north-
It is not possible to estimate what proportion of the eligible population in the area this represents but the estimate of take-
Mr. Latham Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to give extra publicity to the new levels of family income supplement, in view of the incorrect figure published in existing child benefit books.
Mr. Major The main purpose for including a slip in child benefit order books is to make recipients aware of the existence of family income supplement and one-
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Departmental Staff on 17th January 1986.
Mr. Skinner Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average rate of staff turnover in his Department’s inner city offices during each of the past five years.
Mr. Major Turnover is defined as those staff who leave the Department, change offices within the Department or change grade within an office. The number of staff who leave the Department (wastage) is much lower. Both sets of figures for the last two years are set out in the following table:
Time Period | Turnover (%) | Wastage (%)
December 1983-
December 1984-
This information relates to the grades of clerical assistant, local officer II and local officer I employed in inner city offices.
Obtaining information for earlier periods would be disproportionately expensive.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 16th January 1986.
Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number and average amount of single payments made in the latest period for which figures are available to families with children, distinguishing between couples and single parents, in total and by type of single payment.
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 Supplementary Benefit on 16th January 1986.
Mr. Frank Field Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish the number of families with children with additional requirements included in their supplementary benefit assessment, by type and average amount of additional requirement;.
(2) if he will provide estimates for November 1985 of the number of standard housing benefit recipients, in total and according to the following household types (a) pensioners, (b) working households with children, distinguishing between couples and single parents, (c) working households without children, (d) others with children, distinguishing between couples and single parents and (e) others without children.
Mr. Major I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Claimants on 16th January 1986.
Mr. Freeson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many claimants were the responsibility of the Harlesden office of his Department as at May 1979, December 1984 and the latest available date; and how many staff there were in the office for the same period;
(2) how many claimants were the responsibility of the Neasden office of his Department as at May 1979, December 1984 and the latest available date; and how many staff there were in the office for the same period;
(3) how many claimants were the responsibility of the Cricklewood office of his Department as at May 1979, December 1984 and the latest available date; and how many staff there were in the office for the same period;
Mr. Major I shall let the right hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.