§ Lord Donoughueasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why, in view of the Home Secretary, replying to a Question from Richard Spring MP on 28 February 1995 stating that he would issue a consultation document on the ownership of the tote within the next six months, this commitment has not been fulfilled and when it will be.
§ Baroness Blatch:We have been giving very careful consideration to the options for the tote, including the recommendation by the Home Affairs Committee in 1991 that it should be vested in a representative racing body. Any change in the status of the tote would require primary legislation. The review has raised a number of complex and far reaching issues and we will present our proposals in due course.