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Pulmonary Disease

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been allocated to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and how implementation will be monitored. [158507]

Dr. Ladyman: Funding to implement the guidance and recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is not separately identified in primary care trust (PCT) allocations. The national health service is currently receiving the largest sustained increase in funding in its history, so the question of affordability of NICE recommendations should not be an issue. The total of PCT allocations is £45 billion for 2003–04, £49.3 billion for 2004–05 and £53.9 billion for 2005–06. This represents an increase of £12.7 billion, or an average of 30.8 per cent. over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06.

The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will inspect against healthcare standards. The Health Care Standards were published on

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10 February 2004 and are now out for consultation. NICE guidance features at two places within the standards. Within the "core" standards (under "clinical and cost effectiveness"), NICE appraisals are included; and under the "developmental" standards, NICE clinical guidelines are shown. The developmental standards are aspirational and for the NHS to implement over a longer period of time.

Whitehaven Care Home

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken by the National Care Standards Commission following the inspection of the Whitehaven Care Home For Adults in Felpham, Bognor Regis on the 11 and 12 of November 2003. [159728]

Dr. Ladyman: This is a matter for the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). I understand that the NCSC has monitored the requirements made of the service provider during its inspection of November 2003. It is satisfied with the action plan which the provider has drawn up to address the shortfalls identified in the inspection. The NCSC will continue to keep closely in touch with the service provider and monitor the situation to ensure that compliance with Regulations and national minimum standards is achieved and that there is no risk to the people living at Whitehaven.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-social Behaviour

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of anti-social behaviour orders in (a) reducing the frequency and seriousness of crimes by children and young people and (b) reassuring communities; and what plans he has to publish his findings. [158841]

Ms Blears: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are intended to address anti-social behaviour. In Home Office research study 236, January 2002 'A review of anti-social behaviour orders', Siobhan Campbell carried out some research into ASBOs shortly after they had been introduced. Campbell found that few areas managed to monitor ASBOs successfully, but just over one third of a sample of 40 individuals given ASBOs were known to have breached their order. Fewer (30 per cent.) had committed further offences during that time. In only four cases had the individual been taken to court for both breach and a further offence.

Campbell also found that there was anecdotal evidence to suggest that ASBOs had been successful. The Home Office has not carried out further research to assess the impact of ASBOs in (a) reducing the frequency and seriousness of crimes by children and young people and (b) reassuring communities.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees have been

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resident at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre for longer than (a) seven and (b) 10 days during the course of 2003. [145368]

Beverley Hughes: Information on the length of time detainees were resident at the Oakington Reception Centre and on all detainees held during 2003 is not available, except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

Buses (Vandalism)

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of vandalism to buses were reported in each police force area in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [159031]

Ms Blears: This information is not collected centrally.

Cannabis

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to assess the research carried out by Professor Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry on the causal link between cannabis and schizophrenia. [159288]

Caroline Flint: The Home Secretary has not asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of drugs (ACMD) to formally assess research carried out by Professor Robin Murray. Much of the research carried out by Professor Robin Murray was known to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) at the time it was producing its report on cannabis. The ACMD felt the research did not conclusively prove a causal link between cannabis and schizophrenia. The ACMD feel any new evidence produced since its cannabis report does not affect the overall weight of evidence or their conclusions that cannabis while still harmful, is less harmful than other drugs in Class B.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons evaluaton of the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign is only being conducted among 14 to 17-year-olds; [159307]

(2) which agencies bid for the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign. [159308]

Caroline Flint: It is important to focus our evaluation of the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign on 14 to 17-year-olds because they represent the priority audience for the Government in our overall aim to reduce drug misuse among young people. It is particularly important that under 18s understand the law because they will be arrested if found in possession of cannabis.

The agency 'Mother', which is the Home Office's incumbant agency for the drugs education campaign, FRANK, was retained for the reclassification of the cannabis campaign aimed at persons under 18. They had participated in a full competitive pitch through the COI's roster of preferred providers and had been awarded a contract in October 2002.

The joint Home Office Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) advertising campaign aimed at adults was commissioned through ACPO and was based on proposals they had developed with their own agency.

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Child Trafficking

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's strategy to (a) prevent child trafficking and (b) provide protection and support to the victims of child trafficking. [158227]

Beverley Hughes: The Government is committed to combating child trafficking, both in the UK and in source countries. I have recently established an informal ministerial group to improve further the Government's response to the trafficking of both adults and children.

The Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raise awareness of trafficking in source and transit countries through bilateral and multilateral development programmes. These have included training for agencies working with victims of trafficking and work to raise awareness of trafficking.

Since 2000, all operational activity targeted against organised immigration crime, including people trafficking, has been co-ordinated through the multi-agency task force Reflex.

Led by the National Crime Squad (NCS), Reflex brings together all the key agencies, including the Immigration Service, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and key police forces. Reflex aims to build up the intelligence picture, co-ordinate operations and provide a focal point for the operational response to human trafficking and smuggling.

The Reflex strategy is, in part, based on seeking to disrupt activity as close to the source as possible. The development of an international network of Immigration Liaison Officers in countries that are considered to contain key nexus points for transit to the UK has been a key component of the Reflex strategy. Projects in source countries to prevent trafficking include working with law enforcement and government agencies to identify and disrupt trafficking networks and routes.

In addition, the UK is contributing to the EU five year funding programme AGIS which will fund projects to promote police and judicial co-operation on combating organised crime.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 sets out wide-ranging offences covering trafficking for sexual exploitation with a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment. A new offence covering trafficking for non-sexual purposes, such as forced labour or removal of organs, is included in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill which is currently before Parliament, however, we have also tabled amendments in the House of Commons to ensue that the Bill gives adequate protection to victims of child slavery.

The Immigration Service has started specialist child interviewing training for around 600 operational members of staff nation-wide which will help identify child victims of trafficking as they arrive in the UK.

The Government has also published a best practice toolkit, available at www.crimereduction.gov.uk/toolkits, as a guide for professionals who are likely to come into contact with victims of trafficking. This includes specific sections on children and young people.

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The Government is committed to providing appropriate support to victims of trafficking. Child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services. Under the Children Act 1989 local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need, by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those needs or arranging for their provision by other agencies. Assistance and support should therefore be provided by local statutory services in response to identified needs, whether directly or though specialist agencies.

The Green Paper Every Child Matters highlighted tackling child trafficking as a key challenge for children's services. It also sets out new arrangements to join up services at the local level to strengthen child protection.

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