§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his plans for the privatisation of the Tote.
§ Mr. John PattenNo decision on the future of the Tote will be taken until Lloyds merchant bank has completed its current feasibility study on privatising it. We hope that the study will be concluded well before Easter, but the Government will then need to give full consideration to the outcome before any announcement could be made.