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SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Antisocial Behaviour
Clive Efford: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she has taken to ensure that the Crown Prosecution Service uses powers available under the Police Reform Act 2002 when dealing with cases of antisocial behaviour. [136221]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has issued guidance on the procedures to be followed in cases when it is appropriate to remind a court of its power to make an order on conviction in criminal proceedings pursuant to section 1C of the Crime and Disorder Act 1988, as amended by the Police Reform Act 2002.
In appropriate cases, the prosecutor will remind the court of its power to make an order on conviction and will draw the court's attention to the facts of the case that are relevant to the making of an order, together with details of any relevant previous convictions.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill seeks to provide the CPS with express power to apply for orders on conviction and to call additional evidence to be led at a contested hearing of an order on conviction, which need not be restricted or linked to the criminal case before court. The CPS will issue further guidance and training to reflect these changes.
Clive Efford: To ask the Solicitor-General what action she has taken to ensure that the Crown Prosecution Service co-operates with (a) local authorities and (b) police forces to deal with cases of antisocial behaviour. [136222]
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The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service has assembled a project team to deal with issues arising from the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill. The aims of the project are: firstly, to develop national guidance with the police dealing with the evidence required to pursue an order on conviction and the type of conditions to be sought; and secondly, to develop local protocols with the police and local authorities as to when it will be appropriate for each agency to take the lead in dealing with applications for orders and prosecuting breaches.
The Home Office Anti-Social Behaviour Unit has agreed to fund a network of 10 to 12 local anti-social behaviour prosecutors within the Crown Prosecution Service. These local experts will engage with the local community and will work with a central project team to issue guidance. They will assist in developing protocols with local agencies, encourage the use of orders on conviction and coordinate local training.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Solicitor-General how many anti-social behaviour prosecutors will join the Crown Prosecution Service; and what their powers will be. [136270]
The Solicitor-General: The Home Office Anti-Social Behaviour Unit has agreed to fund a network of 10 to 12 local antisocial behaviour prosecutors with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). These local experts will engage with the local community and will work with a central team to issue guidance, develop protocols and provide training across the CPS.
The prosecutors will be deployed in areas where a high level of antisocial behaviour orders are sought, although they will be expected to share good practice across the CPS. They will: prosecute antisocial behaviour and low-level disorder offences; establish good links with local communities and agencies; encourage the use of orders on conviction; and coordinate local training.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor intends to reply to the letter to him dated 21 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. C. Whitehurst. [85146]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor replied to the right hon. Member's letter on 4 December. I apologise to the right hon. Member for the delay in responding to his letter. This was due to an administrative error, and officials have reviewed procedures for handling correspondence as a result.
Family Proceedings Rules Committee
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will place the schedule of meetings of the Family Proceedings Rules Committee for the next six months in the Library. [84756]
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Ms Rosie Winterton: The Family Proceedings Rule Committee has no statutory obligation to meet to conduct its business. Drafts of Family Proceedings Rules are circulated to Members for comments and, when they are content, for signature.
HEALTH
Genetically Modified Food
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) published on post-marketing monitoring of the safety of GM food for people and GM feed for animals. [136191]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 3 November 2003]: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has funded a feasibility study on the post-market monitoring of genetically modified (GM) foods. The report from this study was published on the FSA website on 23 July 2003. No research has been commissioned on the post-market monitoring of GM animal feed.
Accidental Injury
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the local surveillance of accidental injury. [135316]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 30 October 2003]: The South West Public Health Observatory is working on a pilot basis with the national health service-wide clearing service to run quarterly extracts of specific variables from the accident and emergency minimum data set in the South West. There are currently problems with the quality of the data, and with the level of participation by individual trusts. If these problems can be resolved, it may be possible to replicate the system in other regions.
Breast Cancer (Northumberland)
Mr. Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average period between screening for breast cancer and notification of the result of the screening was in the Northumberland strategic health authority area for the latest three-month period for which figures are available. [135518]
Miss Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally.
Cancer Services
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation of improvements to cancer services in the NHS he has commissioned. [133893]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 27 October 2003]: A National Cancer Patient Survey took place in 2001. Over 65,000 cancer patients discharged between July 1999 and June 2000 responded. The outcome of the survey was published in July 2002 and is available at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhspatients/cancersurvey. It provides a baseline measurement of cancer patients'
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experience of care in the national health service against which improvements can be monitored. The results of the survey were shared with, among others, cancer networks and NHS trusts who should have studied their local results and taken action to respond to them. Responsibility for the national survey programme, and therefore repeating this survey, has now moved to the Commission for Health Improvement.
A Manual of Cancer Services Standards was published in February 2001 against which cancer networks in England can assess the quality of services they are providing. A process of peer review took place in 2001 to assess compliance with these standards. A second round of peer review will commence in summer 2004.
The "NHS Cancer Plan—Three-year progress report: Maintaining the Momentum" available at www.doh. ov.uk/cancer/progressreport2003 was published on 28 October 2003. It describes overall progress on implementation of the NHS Cancer Plan.
Chorley and South Ribble Hospital
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital accident and emergency in the last 12 months; how many people from Chorley have been taken to Royal Preston Hospital accident and emergency; and how many patients waited longer than four hours for treatment at (a) Chorley and (b) Preston hospitals. [135805]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available.
Disabled People (Assistance)
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what non-financial assistance is available to families with disabled (a) adults and (b) children. [136148]
Dr. Ladyman: All disabled people have full access to national health service primary, secondary and tertiary health care services. Disabled people have the right to receive an assessment of their care needs by their local social services department. Those eligible, according to local criteria, may receive a wide range of services to meet their need, provided as a "package" of support by social services and/or the health service.
- Advice, guidance and counselling;
Home care and home help;
Equipment and adaptations to use at home;
Day time opportunities/day centres providing facilities for recreation and training for independent living skills;
Day care, covering day nurseries, registered childminders and part-time playgroups respite care provision, either in peoples own homes or elsewhere;
Nursing and medical support.
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