---

Police Information Technology Organisation

Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom he will appoint to succeed Sir Trefor Morris as Chairman of the Police Information Technology Organisation. [141133]

Mr. Straw: I have today appointed Lieutenant-General Sir Edmund Burton to succeed Sir Trefor Morris as Chairman of the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO). Sir Edmund will take up the appointment on 1 January next year.

I would like to pay tribute to Sir Trefor Morris for his contribution over the past three years, during which the Organisation has assumed an increasingly important role in delivering police technology. I am very pleased that we have found someone of Sir Edmund Burton's calibre to take over from him, and to lead the Organisation at a time when we are investing unprecedented amounts of money in new IT and communications projects to improve the efficiency and operational effectiveness of the police.

Tote

Mrs. Golding: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the progress that has been made with his plans to abolish the Horserace Betting Levy Board and to sell the Tote. [141134]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: On 2 March this year, I announced that the Government had decided to bring to an end the statutory betting levy system, to abolish the Horserace Betting Levy Board and, in principle, to sell the Horserace Totalisator Board (the Tote) to racing.

Following that announcement, I invited the British Horseracing Board (BHB), as the sport's governing authority, to prepare a realistic plan for the future funding of racing without a statutory levy. The BHB's plan was submitted to Government on 13 October. The Government have also been considering, in discussion with the Levy Board, the BHB and other stakeholder interests, a range of practical issues arising from the abolition decision.

29 Nov 2000 : Column: 692W

So far as the sale of the Tote is concerned, racing, with the support of the Tote's own management team, are continuing to develop their detailed proposals for the acquisition of the business. The Government, meanwhile, have been considering what the detailed terms of the Tote's exclusive licence might be following the sale and developing proposals for the future regulation of horserace pool betting. We have also formally notified the European Commission of our proposals in order to obtain state aid clearance, and expect to receive its views shortly.

The Government are also publishing today "A consultation paper on the proposed abolition of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the licensing of racecourse betting and pool betting on horseracing".

This consultation paper takes account of the BHB's plan and sets out the Government's detailed proposals for the abolition of the Levy Board. Specific areas covered include the BHB's proposal that it should replace the Levy Board as racing's central funding body and take control of related Levy Board's assets; the Board's responsibilities for advancing veterinary science and education and the improvement of breeds of horses; and the future of the National Stud. It also contains interim proposals, ahead of the outcome of the independent review of gambling, for the licensing and regulation of racecourse betting, including the Tote's pool betting operations.

Publication of this paper represents the next important step towards ending the Government's direct involvement in the administration and financing of racing. The Government wish to see both racing and bookmaking flourish and we remain committed to working closely with both industries as we implement these reforms.

Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library. The closing date for responses is 28 February 2001. Thereafter the Government intend to bring forward legislation, when parliamentary time allows, that will provide for both the abolition of the Levy Board and the sale of the Tote.

29 Nov 2000 : Column: 693W

Anti-discrimination Training

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the companies authorised by his Department to organise specialist courses for race relations and equal opportunities training in the police force. [140341]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The Home Office has a contract with Ionann Management Consultants Ltd. to provide consultancy support and training to the police service in community race relations. Forces may take up the service of this provider if they so wish. The choice of consultant to provide such training is a matter for individual forces; the Home Office does not authorise particular companies for this purpose.

Probation and Bail Hostels

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation and bail hostels are situated within prison grounds. [140684]

Mr. Boateng: There are currently no approved probation and bail hostels situated within the secure perimeter fence of any prisons.

Blantyre House

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the closure of Blantyre House; [140970]

(2) who took the decision to close Blantyre House. [140971]

Mr. Boateng: There are no plans to close Blantyre House prison.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Earnings Top-up

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to complete his evaluation of the Earnings Top-up pilot scheme. [140595]

Mr. Bayley: The final results from the evaluation of the Earnings Top-up pilot will be published in the Department of Social Security Research Series at the end of January 2001. Interim findings from the evaluation were published in May 2000 (DSS Research Reports No. 112 and 113).

Pension Schemes

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of contributors to (a) defined benefit occupational pension schemes, (b) defined contribution occupational pension schemes and (c) personal pensions in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997 and (iii) the most recent year for which figures are available. [140626]

Mr. Rooker: The numbers in the table are active members in contributory occupational schemes. Members of non-contributory schemes and those in schemes contracted-out of SERPS that only receive the National Insurance rebate have been excluded from the figures. Some members may not be paying contributions as some schemes are having a contribution holiday because the

29 Nov 2000 : Column: 694W

pension funds are in surplus. The latest figures available are for 1995. Information is not available for 1992, so 1991 data have been chosen instead.

Active members in schemes in year shown

		Million
Type of scheme	1991	1995
Private sector:
Defined benefit:
Contributory	4.3	4.2
Defined contribution:
Contributory	0.5	0.6
Total	4.8	4.8
Public sector:
Defined benefit:
Contributory	4.0	4.0
Total	4.0	4.0
Grand total	8.8	8.8

Note:

There are no contributory defined contribution schemes in the public sector

Source:

Government Actuary's Department

The numbers of contributors to personal pensions

Year	Million
1991-92	7.3
1996-97	7.8
1997-98	8.2

Source:

Inland Revenue Statistics 1999

Pensions Provision Group Reports

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Government have received the reports from the Pensions Provision Group on the self-employed and on pensions in the context of the labour market; and when it plans to publish them. [140682]

Mr. Rooker: The Pension Provision Group have provided us with their reports on pension provision for self-employed people and the impact on pensions of changes in the labour market. However, they are now considering whether their findings need any further development in the light of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Statement of 9 November 2000, Official Report, column 451-71. The reports will be published in due course.

New Deal (Disabled People)

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with (a) the NHS and (b) insurers concerning the New Deal for Disabled People and its extension. [140340]

Mr. Bayley: The New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP), is a joint initiative of the Department of Social Security and the Department for Education and Employment. Consultation on the national extension consisted of four strands:
(i) consultation with NDDP Personal Adviser Service (PAS) pilots at a PAS conference in April 2000;

29 Nov 2000 : Column: 695W

(ii) consultation with NDDP providers, disability organisations, employers, clients and partnerships through a set of consultation materials and a consultation seminar held in May 2000;
(iii) a three-day programme of discussions in May 2000 facilitated by Goodwill Global Inc with departmental officials, NDDP providers, disability and employer organisations; and
(iv) consultation with NDDP researchers at a meeting held in May 2000.

Contributions were invited from a range of health service organisations; and the Department of Health, an NHS Trust and a re-insurance company representing the insurers and re-insurers working in partnership with PAS pilots have all contributed to the consultation on the extension of the NDDP.

---