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28 Feb 2003 : Column 764W—continued
Criminal Justice Bill
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the prison population of the proposed changes to (a) sentencing and (b) the double jeopardy rule contained in the Criminal Justice Bill. [99019]
Hilary Benn [holding answer 28 February 2003]: The sentencing provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill will make it possible to ensure that the most serious violent, sexual and persistent offenders spend longer in prison while allowing other offenders to be dealt with by means of tougher and more effective community sentences. Current projections indicate that the long-term net effect of implementation of these provisions will be a small increase of about 1,000 in the prison population.
The proposal contained in the Bill in relation to retrial for serious offences would only permit a retrial in cases where new and compelling evidence subsequently came to light. Furthermore, to prevent the possible harassment of acquitted persons or where it is not in the public interest, the personal consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions will be required to the re-opening of investigation and an application to the Court of Appeal. Given these safeguards it is estimated that only a very small number of cases are likely to be retried each year and that the impact upon the prison population will be negligible.
Drug-related Crime
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prison inmates in Britain have access to drugs rehabilitation programmes. [97594]
Hilary Benn [holding answer 12 February 2003]: The Prison Service does not keep records of the percentage of drug-misusing prisoners in England and Wales that have access to rehabilitation programmes. However, based on research conducted by the Office for National Statistics, the Service estimates that 18,000 prisoners each year would benefit potentially from participation in a rehabilitation programme. The length of treatment courses serves to restrict access to those sentenced to two years or more.
The Service is committed annually to delivering 5,700 places on rehabilitation programmes or therapeutic communities by March 2004. The Service is, therefore, currently resourced only to meet approximately 30 per cent. of the potential rehabilitation needs of drug-misusing prisoners.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained on 4 December 2002 in his response to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff), Official Report, column 906, the Government are committed significantly to extending drug treatment programmes both within prison and in the community.
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Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been given an extended sentence under section 85 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. [99018]
Hilary Benn [holding answer 27 February 2003]: 43 cases of extended sentences were notified to the Home Office in 2001.
Figures for 2002 will be published in the autumn.
What Works Unit
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the work programme is of his Department's What Works Unit, and if he will make a statement. [99020]
Hilary Benn [holding answer 27 February 2003]: Considerable progress has been made in ensuring that interventions with offenders are soundly based on the What Works evidence and are effective in reducing re-offending. A joint prison/probation assessment system (OASys) is being rolled out. We have introduced a range of accredited offending behaviour programmes covering both general offending and specialised areas such as drug abuse and sexual offences.
Work is also progressing on the reintegration of offenders into society by addressing factors such as literacy, numeracy, employment and accommodation; and a system of Enhanced Community Punishment is being introduced this year. An intensive scheme collaborating with police surveillance is being developed in the community for young adult offenders between 18 and 20 years of age.
The Youth Justice Board is also taking forward What Works initiative. It is producing a series of Effective Practice Guidance Notes, and is introducing a quality assurance process within Youth Offending Teams.
Overall, our aim is to reduce re-offending by 5 per cent. by 2004.
HEALTH
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines there are for testing patients for Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency; [99139]
- (2) how many patients are being treated for Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency in the UK; [99138]
(3) what the most common symptoms of Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency are amongst patients in the UK. [99140]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 25 February 2002]: Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disorder with a prevalence of approximately one in 5,000 people. It is associated with liver disease among children and lung disease among adults between approximately 30–50. We do not hold data centrally on the number of patients being treated.
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While no specific guidelines have been issued by the Department of Health, the British Thoracic Society's 1997 Thorax guidelines advised general practitioners that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) sufferers under 40 should be referred for a specialist opinion to identify an alpha-antitrypsin deficiency and to consider therapy and family screening. Alpha-antitrypsin deficiency is the most common inherited liver disease in babies and children and it is accepted clinical practice to test for this condition.
Both liver and lung disease may present with a wide variety of symptoms. The main signs are jaundice in respect of liver disease and shortness of breath and cough for lung disease.
Cancer Funding
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will direct to itemise cancer funding and where it has been spent in their annual reports. [98002]
Ms Blears: We have asked strategic health authorities, as part of an exceptional exercise, to identify total additional investment in cancer services in 2001–02 and 2002–03, with a subtotal for cancer drugs and supporting information on new service developments.
We intend to publish the results in late spring 2003.
Computer Fraud
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department. [97553]
Ms Blears: There have been no reported incidents of illegal hacking or computer fraud on the information technology systems, either within or outside the Department, in the financial year 2001–02.
The Department had computer losses, including thefts, to the value of £70,500 in financial year 2001–02. The Department takes the protection of its IT systems and assets very seriously and its security policy and procedures are kept under constant review.
Correspondence
Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North West Cambridgeshire will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 21 November 2002 on behalf of his constituent Mrs.Loosemore. [100023]
Mr. Hutton: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member today.
Drug Treatment
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug misusers under treatment have had GP involvement since 1 January 2002. [98152]
Ms Blears: This information is not available centrally, in this form. Between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002, 16 per cent. of drug users presenting to drug treatment agencies in England were reported as having been referred by a general
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practitioner. Source: statistical press release "Provisional Statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System in England, 2001/02"—http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/spndruqsQ212.htm. This document is available in the Library.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific health treatment is recommended under a drug treatment and testing order for (a) heroin addiction, (b) crack cocaine addiction, (c) polydrug use and (d) dual diagnosis. [98154]
Ms Blears: The specific health treatment under a treatment and testing order will vary according to the different clinical and social care needs of each individual drug user, based on clinical judgment. The 'Models of Care' document and the Department's 'Drug Misuse and Dependence—Guidelines on Clinical Management' (Clinical Guidelines) outlines the evidence-based best practice that is recommended for the care of all drug users.
Electronic Patient Records
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what targets are in place for the introduction of electronic patient records; [88736]
- (2) how many trusts are meeting their targets for the introduction of electronic patient records. [88737]
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham on 13 January 2003, Official Report, column 488W, when he expects all NHS trusts in the south-east to have introduced electronic patient records. [92598]
Mr. Lammy: The following targets are in place for implementing the Integrated Care Record Service (ICRS) in the Government's '21stCentury IT' Strategy for the national health service.
- Health Records Infrastructure initial connections by all trusts by March 2005.
December 2005: All primary care trusts, and all NHS trusts actively implementing elements of electronic patient records (EPR).
December 2007: Full national health record service, with core data and reference links to local EPR systems for full record access; EPR (compliant with new National standard, XML-based specification) systems implemented in all PCTs, and all Hospitals (to be confirmed during calendar year 2003).
Unified Health Record (with all appropriate social care information) by December 2010 (to be confirmed during calendar year 2006).
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