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19 Apr 2004 : Column 256W—continued

Departmental Computers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to update computer (a) hardware and (b) software standard packages used in his Department. [166367]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department ensures the currency of its information technology infrastructure through a regular programme of renewals. It is currently engaged in a major modernisation of its IT infrastructure and computers, installing Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office XP on its desktop and laptop computers.

With regard to hardware, including desktop equipment, the Department has a replacement cycle of at least four years, with five to seven years or longer for central servers, and other network components.

Software is replaced or upgraded, as needed, and to keep it in line with suppliers' support arrangements, and where necessary, to meet enhanced business requirements. The Department will consider open source software in its future upgrade path.

Departmental Officials

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what secondments (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG have made to his Department since 2001; for what (i) periods and (ii) tasks the secondments were made; whether secondments of staff from his Department have been made to those firms; and for what (A) periods and (B) tasks. [156922]

Ms Rosie Winterton: There have been four secondments from PricewaterhouseCooper, three secondments from KPMG, one secondment from Ernst & Young and two secondments from Deloitte & Touche into the Department since 2001.

The four secondments from PricewaterhouseCooper are:

From January 2002—continues. The secondment involves providing advice on issues relating to policy and implementation of foundation trusts and the NHS Bank on issues pertaining to corporate finance, private finance and public—private partnerships.

From July 2002—continues. July 2002—February 2003, worked full time on the development of the National Health Service foundation trust financial regime. March 2003—July 2003, worked 50 per cent. of the time on the
 
19 Apr 2004 : Column 257W
 
NHS foundation trust financial regime and 50 per cent. on various projects in the strategy unit. August 2003—continuing, works full time in the strategy unit and makes occasional contributions to the NHS foundation trust financial regime.

From June 2003—September 2003. The secondment involved producing a guidance manual to best practice methods for successful contracting.

From September 2003—March 2004. The secondment involves working with the independent regulator for NHS foundation trusts transitional team and then the permanent team, to help develop an audit code setting out standards, procedures and techniques for the independent regulator as set out in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003.

The three secondments from KPMG are:

From January 2001—January 2002. The secondment involved advising NHS trusts on financial aspects of private finance initiative contracts.

From December 2002—October 2003. The secondment involved working with franchising policy development.

From July 2003—continuing. The secondment involves establishing performance and finance measurement reporting, developing business plans and commercial evaluation of projects.

The one secondment from Ernst & Young is:

From October 2000—October 2001. The secondment involved advising NHS Trusts on financial aspects of private finance initiative contracts.

The two secondments from Deloitte & Touche are:

From November 2001—May 2003. The secondment involved advising NHS trusts on financial aspects of private finance initiative contracts.

From December 2001—November 2002. The secondment involved advising NHS trusts on financial aspects of private finance initiative contracts.

There was one secondment by a member of staff to Deloitte & Touche. The secondment was from November 2001 to November 2002, the secondment involved learning about private sector systems and procedures for evaluating private finance initiative schemes.

Further information on secondments into and out of the Department, from all sectors, has been placed in the Library.

Domiciliary Care

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned on the provision of domiciliary care in Oxfordshire. [164103]

Dr. Ladyman: No research has been commissioned on the provision of domiciliary care in Oxfordshire. However, the Department collects a range of data from councils with social services responsibilities and from the national health service through a series of statistical returns. These data inform policy development and inspection preparations nationally, and are published to aid local planning and comparison. In addition, all councils submit a delivery and improvement statement twice annually and this contains information on performance for 2003–04.
 
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Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2004, Official Report, column 598W, on older people, how the National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care Agencies are monitored; and what information is held centrally on compliance with the standard. [164257]

Dr. Ladyman: From 1 April 2004, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) took over the regulatory responsibilities of the National Care Standards Commission. CSCI monitors National Minimum Standards (NMS) for domiciliary care agencies in the same way as it monitors NMS for all other services it regulates—through its registration and inspection actions.

Currently, the domiciliary care sector is being registered and only services assessed against the Regulations as fit are registered. At present, no information is held centrally on compliance with the NMS as the inspection programme has not yet begun. This will start later in 2004 and early in 2005. Results of inspections, including details of compliance with the NMS, will be held centrally on CSCI's registration and inspection database.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2004, Official Report, column 598W, on older people, if he will place a copy of the standard on medication for domiciliary care agencies in the Library. [164258]

Dr. Ladyman: The Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations and National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care were published in January 2003. The regulations came into force on 1 April 2003. Regulation 14(6)(b) and standard 10 of the National Minimum Standards set out requirements and a standard in relation to procedures for assisting with medication and health related tasks. The Regulations and National Minimum Standards are both available in the Library.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down by region the domiciliary care agencies which have applied for registration. [164766]

Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is set out in the table.
Domiciliary care agencies which have applied for registration. Position at 29 March 2004

Region	Registered Services	Applications outstanding
North East	126	97
East Midlands	62	236
South West	339	175
West Midlands	93	346
North West	241	413
London	200	319
South East	333	432
Eastern	104	408
Yorkshire and Humberside	148	187
Total	1,646	2,613

 
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Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health of the domiciliary care agencies which have been registered with action plans, how many are (a) in the public sector and (b) privately owned. [164767]

Dr. Ladyman: As at 29 March 2004, 855 domiciliary care agencies had been registered with conditions: 144 in the public sector, comprising three National Health Service agencies and 141 local authority agencies; and 711 independent agencies, comprising 613 private agencies, 79 voluntary agencies and 19 other agencies.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health of the domiciliary care agencies which have been fully registered, how many are (a) in the public sector and (b) privately run. [164771]

Dr. Ladyman: As at 29 March 2004, there were 1,646 domiciliary care agencies registered. Of these, 296 were in the public sector, comprising 292 local authority services and four National Health Service services and 1,315 services were in the independent sector, comprising 1,156 private agencies and 159 voluntary agencies. In addition 35 other agencies were registered.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many domiciliary care agencies have been refused registration. [164772]

Dr. Ladyman: As at 29 March 2004, six domiciliary care agencies have been refused registration, 2,613 applications are awaiting registration and the total number of agencies registered is 1646.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many domiciliary care agencies have been registered; and how many have been registered with action plans. [164773]

Dr. Ladyman: As at 29 March, a total of 1,646 domiciliary care agencies had been registered, of which 855 had been registered with conditions.

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