HL Deb 31 March 1998 vol 588 cc22-3WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the arrangements for responding to Parliamentary Questions and correspondence from this House relating to the work of the Police Information Technology Organisation following its change of status on 1 April 1998. [HL1326]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

With the implementation, on 1 April 1998, of the remaining provisions of Part IV of the Police Act 1997, the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), hitherto part of the Home Office, will become an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). As an NDPB, PITO will henceforth be independent of the Home Office, although as the responsible Minister, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be accountable to Parliament for the overall efficiency and effectiveness with which the organisation carries out its statutory functions.

In recognition of PITO's new independent status, noble Lords are invited to write direct to the Organisation's Chairman, Sir Trefor Morris, if they have any questions or concerns about the information technology or procurement activities undertaken by PITO on behalf of the police service or other customers, or about its administration. Sir Trefor's address is: Police Information Technology Organisation, Room 504, Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London SW1P 2AW.

I will continue to be responsible for answering parliamentary Questions in your Lordships' House, unless they relate solely to PITO's activities in Scotland, in which case my noble friend Lord Sewel would be responsible. Advice on the administration and/or activities of PITO may be sought from the organisation in order to answer parliamentary Questions. Where a noble Lord asks a parliamentary Question on matters concerning the day-to-day operation of the organisation, I will usually reply to the effect that the Chairman will write direct to the noble Lord concerned.

Turning to ministerial correspondence, if either the Home Secretary or I, or our Scottish Office counterparts, receive correspondence from noble Lords about matters which fall within PITO's area of responsibilities, we will normally reply to the effect that the correspondence has been forwarded to the Chairman with a request that he replies personally to the noble Lord concerned. Noble Lords will continue to receive a full ministerial reply where the correspondence involves wider policy considerations.

I will write to my noble friend Lord Richard and the noble Lords, Lords Cranborne, Rodgers and Weatherill setting out these arrangements. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library.