§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the future of the Tote; [4771]
(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 12 June, Official Report, column 512, if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to secure a successor to the chairman of the Tote; which parties he has consulted; and when he expects to make an announcement. [4772]
§ Mr. StrawI hope to appoint the new chairman of the Tote shortly.
The competition for the post is being conducted in accordance with the Nolan procedures for public appointments, including advertising the post and consideration by a Home Office advisory panel. I am considering a short list of candidates. It would be premature to make any further comment at this stage.
There are no plans at present to change the statutory arrangements governing the Tote. The new chairman will be tasked with a wide-ranging review of the Tote's operations.