§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies(a) he has abolished since 1 May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1 May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1 May 1997. [34834]
§ Mr. Straw(a) No Home Office Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) have been abolished since 1 May 1997. However, the future of six NDPBs will be affected by current developments and I hope to be able to announce in due course that several will be abolished, merged or 'sunsetted'.
(b) No new Home Office NDPBs have been created since 1 May 1997. However, under the provisions of Part IV of the Police Act 1997, the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), which is currently part of the Department, will be established as an executive NDPB with effect from 1 April 1998. The Organisation's forward plan for 1997–98, published in April 1997, gave a figure of £50,960k for its total gross expenditure for this year. I am unable to provide a figure for 1998–99. This is because I cannot anticipate the presentation of the Home Office Departmental Report and the main Supply Estimates to Parliament. This will happen shortly after the Budget. I will then write to the hon. Member with the information for the coming financial year.
The Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] contains proposals to establish a National Board for Youth Justice as an NDPB.