Tag: Benefits

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 24th July 1986.

Mr. Alton Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ceiling on the rent which a landlord may charge where the rent is being paid via housing benefit.

Mr. Major The regulations do not specify a maximum allowable rent for housing benefit purposes, but if a rent is registered housing benefit is payable only on the registered rent. However, local authorities can in certain circumstances limit the amount of rent which is taken into account in calculating entitlement to housing benefit if they consider that the rent charged is unreasonable. We propose to strengthen local authorities’ powers to withhold benefit and that the Secretary of State should have a reserve power to limit the level of rent eligible for housing benefit.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 23rd July 1986.

Mr. Austin Mitchell Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of paying unemployment benefit to persons between the ages of 60 and 65 years whose benefit is exhausted or who are currently disqualified because their contribution record is inadequate, but excluding females who are entitled to a state pension, and the saving in other benefits and additional yield of tax; and what adjustment should be made to these figures if those with an occupational pension but no state pension were to be excluded from drawing unemployment benefit.

Mr. Major I regret that the information requested is not available. No records are kept of the number of unemployed persons over 60 years who are not receiving benefits and who are not required to sign at the unemployment benefit office for credits.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Students (Benefits) on 23rd July 1986.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what welfare benefits students are eligible to claim in connection with illness; and what is the cost to public funds.

Mr. Major A student who is ill may qualify for sickness benefit or supplementary benefit, subject to the normal rules. No separate records are kept of claims from sick students.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Means Tested Benefits on 23rd July 1986.

Mr. Knox Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the benefits in cash or in kind for which his Department is wholly or partly responsible which are means-tested.

Mr. Major Supplementary benefit and family income supplement are the principal income-related benefits administered by the Department of Health and Social Security. Receipt can also give passported entitlement to other benefits such as free school meals. The Department also administers low-income schemes which provide help with National Health Service charges, travelling expenses and welfare foods, and has policy responsibility for housing benefit, which is administered by local authorities.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Invalidity Benefit on 21st July 1986.

Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people at the latest date for which information is available were receiving invalidity benefit: (i) with the higher rate invalidity allowance, (ii) with the middle rate invalidity allowance, (iii) with the lower rate invalidity allowance and (iv) with the additional component.

Mr. Major As at 30 March 1985, the latest date for which the information is available, the numbers of recipients were:

Number
(i) 211,000
(ii) 176,000
(iii) 321,000
(iv) 528,000

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 21st July 1986.

Mr. Frank Cook Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has given local offices any guidance or instructions on co-operating with local authority run benefits take-up campaigns.

Mr. Major Local offices are encouraged to discuss with local authorities any plans which they may have to run benefits take-up campaigns. Officials are considering whether more detailed guidance can usefully be provided.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 18th July 1986.

Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claimants are estimated to be eligible for severe disablement allowance, but do not claim it.

Mr. Major I regret that reliable estimates are not available.

Mr. Tom Cox Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Tooting constituency in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff in his Department’s local offices for the same period.

Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Manchester, Wythenshawe constituency and the city of Manchester, respectively, in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change the figures represent; and what were the percentage changes in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at his Department’s local offices for the same period.

Mr. Geoffrey Robinson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Coventry, North-West constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staffing handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department over the same period.

Mr. Major I shall let the right hon. and hon. Members have replies as soon as possible.

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 17th July 1986.

Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what percentage of council tenants receive housing benefit distinguishing between those below and those above retirement age.

Mr. Major There were an estimated 3.8 million council tenants, of whom 2.1 million were over pension age, receiving housing benefit in autumn 1985. They represented about 64 per cent. and 36 per cent. respectively of all council tenants.

Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Raynsford), 23 May, Official Report, columns 386-90, if he will publish fresh figures for benefit entitlement taking into account entitlement to family income supplement and family credit.

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 Supplementary Benefit on 16th July 1986.

Mr. Faulds Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Warley, East constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department over the same period.

Dr. McDonald Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Thurrock in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change that represents;
(2) what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff at the local offices of his Department in Thurrock over the same period.

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

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 15th July 1986.

Mr. Barry Jones Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Alyn and Deeside constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department over the same period.

Mr. Millan Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the figures for the number of claimants of supplementary benefit in the Govan constituency at the most recent date for which figures are available and comparable figures for 1979; and what percentage change the latest figures represent;
(2) what were the numbers of staff employed on supplementary benefit work in his Department’s local offices in the south-west of Glasgow at the latest available date; and if he will give comparative figures for 1979.

Mr. Nellist Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit at the latest available date in 1986 and the comparable month in 1979 at each of the Coventry offices of his Department; what percentage change that represents; and what was the change in numbers and in percentage terms in the staff handling supplementary benefit and in all staff at those offices for the same period.

Mr. Bermingham Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the St. Helens, South constituency in (a) 1979, and (b) 1985; what percentage change this represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department for the same period.

Mr. Lambie Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Cunninghame, South constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change this represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department for the same period.

Mr. Major I shall let the right hon. and hon. Members have replies as soon as possible.