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Freedom of Information Bill
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to make available the responses to the public consultation on the draft Freedom of Information Bill. [95671]
Mr. Straw: I have placed copies in the Library today, where they will be held for six months. I intend to announce tomorrow the changes to the draft Freedom of Information Bill which arise from the Government's response to the consultation exercise and pre-legislative scrutiny.
Police Recruitment
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited to police forces in England and Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available and in total for the period; and if he will make a statement. [94767]
Mr. Straw: The total number of police officers recruited by police forces in England and Wales in each of the last three years are:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 6,450 |
| 1997-98 | 6,543 |
| 1998-99 | 5,391 |
| Total | 18,384 |
These figures include transfers between forces and have been supplied by the Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate.
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Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are planned to be recruited to police forces in England and Wales in each of the next three years and in total for the period; and if he will make a statement. [94768]
Mr. Straw: In my announcement on 30 September about the Crime Fighting Fund, the planning estimate I used was 11,000 recruits over the next three years. The basis of this estimate is currently being examined. I shall report the outcome to the House as soon as possible. We shall shortly be asking forces for detailed estimates of their planned recruitment over the next three years in order to assess their bids for money from the Crime Fighting Fund.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers retired, resigned or were dismissed from police forces in England and Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available and in total for the period; and if he will make a statement. [94769]
Mr. Straw: The information requested is shown in the table.
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retirements(3) | 4,478 | 4,807 | 4,204 |
| Resignations | 739 | 924 | 1,189 |
| Dismissals | 126 | 154 | 176 |
| Total | 5,343 | 5,885 | 5,569 |
(3) Covers both ordinary retirements and ill health retirements
Case Record and Management System
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement concerning progress on implementing the information technology Case Record and Management System in the probation service; [94771]
- (2) how many probation services currently use the Case Record and Management System; and if he will make a statement. [94774]
Mr. Boateng: Forty-four probation services are currently using Case Record and Management System. Of these:
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Mr. Boateng:
Case Record and Management System now needs to be re-developed in order better to support the modernisation of the probation service, including important developments such as the evidence-based programmes to reduce the likelihood of re-offending, the new joint probation-prisons offender assessment system (OASys), and the new National Standards for the supervision of offenders. Its successor will also need to facilitate connections to other parts of the criminal justice system and the time is now right to take advantage of the further advances in information technology.
A user requirement is currently being developed and the work will be put out to tender in due course.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to date of developing and implementing the Case Record and Management System in the probation service; what was the original expected cost of the system; and if he will make a statement. [94773]
Mr. Boateng:
There have been four major release versions of Case Record and Management System. The total development cost of these was £3.2 million which is in line with original estimates. The total implementation cost of the four versions was £1.4 million. This is £300,000 more than the estimated cost of implementation, largely for reasons of Year 2000 compliance.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a year 2000 compliant version of the Case Record and Management System has been made available to probation services; how many probation services are using such a system; and if he will make a statement. [94775]
Mr. Boateng:
A year 2000 complaint version of Case Record and Management System is currently being rolled out to probation services. The rollout is on schedule and by the end of this week 26 probation services will have it. The rollout is due to be completed by 17 November.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the health trusts in Lancashire with regard to the availability of drugs through the NHS; and what discussions he has held with them. [94186]
Mr. Hutton
[holding answer 19 October 1999]: We have received no such representations, neither have we discussed the matter with any of the trusts concerned.
Miss Kirkbride:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of NHS dentists by region in each year since 1995. [94316]
Mr. Hutton:
The table sets out the number of National Health Service dentists providing treatment under the NHS in the General Dental Service, Salaried Dental Service, Hospital Dental Service and Community Dental Service by region in England at 30 September each year.
21 Oct 1999 : Column: 627
Six are currently training their staff to use it;
Twenty-seven use it and classify themselves as fully dependent on it; and
Eleven classify themselves as partially dependent on it (they are using only some functions or it has only been deployed to some of their offices).
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to replace the Case Record and Management System with an alternative information technology system; if a tender has been put out for an alternative system to CRAMS; and if he will make a statement. [94772]
| 30 September | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health regions | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
| England | 19,563 | 19,978 | 20,484 | 21,041 |
| Northern and Yorkshire | 2,513 | 2,427 | 2,479 | 2,532 |
| Trent | 1,615 | 1,704 | 1,801 | 1,820 |
| Anglia and Oxford | 1,936 | 1,983 | 2,088 | 2,152 |
| North Thames | 2,997 | 3,097 | 3,286 | 3,406 |
| South Thames | 3,238 | 3,308 | 3,312 | 3,348 |
| South and West | 2,711 | 2,748 | 2,823 | 2,985 |
| West Midlands | 1,842 | 1,863 | 1,939 | 1,982 |
| North West | 2,630 | 2,737 | 2,778 | 2,836 |
(4) GDS dentists include principals, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
(5) Salaried dentists are those in post as reported by HAs; 1995 figures are for the Number of contracts.
(6) Dentists are counted in each region in which they work. The figures include some double counting as a dentist may practise in more than one of the dental services. This explains the apparent disparity between the sums of regions and England totals.
World Mental Health Day
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's contribution to World Mental Health Day on 10 October. [94354]
Mr. Hutton: The Department has continued to support the World Mental Health Day campaign co-ordinated by the Health Education Authority. We have allocated £1 million in 1999 to support the campaign, an increase of 57 per cent. over last year. The campaign is an important element of our strategy to challenge discrimination and promote participation and inclusion as key positive steps for mental well being.
Commission for Health Improvement
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs of establishing the Commission for Health Improvement. [93917]
Mr. Denham: The budget for the Commission for Health Improvement in 1999-2000 is £3 million. This money will be spent on the establishment and early development of the commission and will cover various costs including accommodation, staff recruitment and training, and the development of methodologies.
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