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London Bus Services: Subsidy
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the subsidy paid to London bus franchisees per bus passenger journey.
Viscount Goschen: In 1995-96 public transport support for London bus services was 3½ pence per passenger journey.
House of Lords: Painting
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe asked the Chairman of Committees:
- When, and by whom, the decision was taken that the painting of the House in session should depict the debate on the Queen's Speech in November 1995.
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham): The decision was taken on 18th July 1995 at a meeting of the ad hoc group on the painting of the House established by the House of Lords' Offices Committee.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Lord Trefgarne asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made since the signature last December of the Joint Advanced Strike Technology Memorandum of Understanding with the United States.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe): The United States Department of Defense announced on 16th November the selection of two main contractors, Boeing Defense and Aerospace Group and Lockheed Martin, to carry out the concept demonstration phase of the proposed Joint Strike Fighter aircraft programme. The concept demonstration will be carried out against a requirement to whose formulation the UK has contributed. The United Kingdom has now arranged to participate in the phase with a view to the possible purchase of the short take-off, vertical landing version of the aircraft as a successor to the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier in the second decade of the next century. The concept demonstration is expected to cost 2.2 billion dollars and will include the construction, by each of the two contractors, of flying demonstration aircraft. The United Kingdom will contribute 200 million dollars to the phase and we expect a significant share of the work to be carried out by British industry.
Social Security Fraud: Prevention Costs
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many people are employed, and at what cost, to deal with social security fraud.
The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish): Tackling fraud and abuse is a top priority for the Department of Social Security. Everyone working in the department has a responsibility towards the identification and prevention of fraud.
In 1996-97 the department is employing a total of around 7,000 staff on fraud duties at a cost of approximately £265 million.
Additionally, local authorities employ staff to tackle housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud. In 1994-95 the total full time equivalent number of staff engaged on fraud duties in local authorities was 1,000.
Horserace Totalisator Board: Bets on Foreign Lotteries
Viscount Ullswater asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will allow the Horserace Totalisator Board to take bets on lotteries run outside the United Kingdom.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch): We will shortly lay an order allowing the Tote to take bets on the outcome of foreign lotteries.
The Government are also supporting the Private Member's Bill to allow the Tote to take fixed odds bets on non-sporting events.
Malathion
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any research has been conducted into the effects upon the immune systems of adults and children of repeated treatments with shampoos and lotions containing Malathion and, if so, with what results.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege): Malathion, like all marketed medicines, is monitored on an ongoing basis for safety. There are no data to suggest that the use of malathion as a human medicine has led to any serious adverse effects.
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