asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 4 June (WA 171) regarding government financial assistance to the National Black Police Association, whether in light of their policy to promote integration they will discontinue financial assistance to organisations based on skin pigmentation. [HL4317]

The National Black Police Association (NBPA) is one of a number of staff associations to receive grant-in-aid funding from the Home Office. Other associations include the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Federation, the Superintendents Association, the British Association for Women in Policing, the Gay Police Association and the National Disabled Police Association. Each of these associations carries out a number of projects that support the aims and objectives of the Home Office.

The police staff associations represent police officers of all persuasions. However, in a large organisation such as the police, the needs of minority groups can sometimes be overlooked. The NBPA offers support to minority ethnic police officers and staff and aims to improve the working environment of minority ethnic personnel within the police service and to help improve race relations within the community.

The NBPA's main objective is to enable the benefits of membership to be enjoyed by members of the police service who are African, African-Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Asian and Asian sub-continent origin. The NBPA also offers support to associate members, whatever their ethnic group, and is therefore inclusive. Associate membership is open to those persons whose aims are compatible with or supportive of the aims of the NBPA, but who are otherwise ineligible for full membership of the NBPA.

A review of the diversity staff support associations will take place later this year to review their effectiveness and to determine whether they are equipped to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders in the police service in relation to equality and diversity.