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Mental Health: Forensic Discharges
Baroness Murphy asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many discharges from medium secure forensic mental health services there have been each year in the last five years, categorised by (a) strategic health authority, and (b) primary care trust. [HL6304]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): This information is not collected centrally.
NHS: Overseas Visitors
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, following the request of 13 September 2007 (3810ICO) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Mr Thomas Yates to the Department of Health for the submissions to its consultation Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services and the statement by the department in its letter to Mr Yates of 16 October 2008 that the information is not exempt from disclosure under the exemption it has claimed, why there has been a further delay in disclosure. [HL6229]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The department will publish the responses it received to the consultation document Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services.
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However, given that over four years have elapsed since the consultation exercise, the department will, first, be contacting all those who replied to ensure that they still have no objections to their comments being published. We will then publish the responses.
NHS: Racism
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action is being taken to understand the reasons for, and reduce, the numbers of black and ethnic-minority staff working in the National Health Service South East Coast Strategic Health Authority who are experiencing disciplinary actions and expressing grievances on the grounds of discrimination. [HL6365]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The South East Coast (SEC) Chief Executives’ Forum is meeting on 27 November 2008 to consider the issue of the seemingly disproportionate numbers of black and minority-ethnic (BME) staff experiencing disciplinary actions and expressing grievances, and to initiate collective action in the SEC region.
The NHS Employers organisation has also commissioned research into the extent of involvement of BME staff in disciplinary procedures in the wider National Health Service and to identify good management practice in this area.
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ask the Equality and Human Rights Commission to initiate action against the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust and West Kent Primary Care Trust for non-compliance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 following the Race Equality Service Review published by the NHS South East Coast BME Network. [HL6366]
Lord Darzi of Denham: The department has asked the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority (SEC SHA), rather than the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to take action on this issue.
SEC SHA has tasked all South East Coast primary care trusts and NHS trusts with reviewing their compliance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, and completing and returning a race equality assurance framework. The SHA will take direct action regarding any organisation that is not compliant.
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes have been made by NHS trusts since the Healthcare Commission's survey in 2007, which found fewer than one in 10 trusts had honoured its statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2007. [HL6367]
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Lord Darzi of Denham: There is no place for racism or other forms of discrimination in the National Health Service. It contradicts the basic value of equity that is the cornerstone of the health service. NHS trusts are individually responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. Since 2006 the Healthcare Commission has undertaken annual surveys of NHS compliance with race equality legislation. In January 2007 the NHS chief executive, David Nicholson, wrote to the chief executives of all NHS trusts to reiterate the need to ensure they meet their legal duties on race equality and direct them to Department of Health guidance on this issue. In March 2008, David Nicholson again wrote to chief executives on the need to ensure full compliance with all equality legislation.
The NHS Management Board has since considered this issue further and agreed to establish in 2009 a new NHS equality and diversity council to oversee equality issues in the NHS.
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of whether the National Health Service is free of racism; and what steps they will take to ensure this. [HL6368]
Lord Darzi of Denham: There is no place for racism or other forms of discrimination in the National Health Service. It contradicts the basic value of equity that is the cornerstone of the health service. NHS trusts are individually responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. Since 2006 the Healthcare Commission has undertaken annual surveys of NHS compliance with race equality legislation. In January 2007 the NHS chief executive, David Nicholson, wrote to the chief executives of all NHS trusts to reiterate the need to ensure they meet their legal duties on race equality and direct them to Department of Health guidance on this issue. In March 2008, David Nicholson again wrote to chief executives on the need to ensure full compliance with all equality legislation.
The NHS Management Board has since considered this issue further and agreed to establish in 2009 a new NHS equality and diversity council to oversee equality issues in the NHS.
Northern Ireland Office
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 28 October (WA 157), which Northern Ireland Office agencies acquired more staff after the 2004 spending review; how many frontline staff were recruited in each agency and in what jobs; what was the net reduction in central administrative posts within the core Northern Ireland Office; and what improvements in public services occurred as a consequence. [HL6411]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The change in staff numbers in the core Northern Ireland Office (NIO), its agencies and its legal offices is set out in the following table. The NIO publishes an annual
24 Nov 2008 : Column WA250
| Business area | 2005 staff numbers | 2008 staff numbers | Change |
Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 5 November (WA 69) concerning bonuses paid to officials of the Northern Ireland Office, what are the objectives against which bonuses are awarded. [HL6303]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Individuals' objectives against which bonuses are awarded are set out in their personal performance agreements. These reflect the departmental objectives set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, a copy of which can be found at www.nio.gov.uk/comprehensive_spending_review_-_psas_and_dsas_for_nio.pdf.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which officials in the Northern Ireland Office received a bonus in the past two years; what rank they are; how much they received; and for what. [HL6375]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Details of the reasons of bonus awards for officials in the Northern Ireland Office were set out in my Answer given on 5 November 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 69). Figures for the past two years are set out in the following tables.
| Special Bonus Awards | ||||
| Grade | Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2007-08 | Amount 2007-08 | Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2008-09 April-October | Amount 2008-09 April-October |
24 Nov 2008 : Column WA251
| End-year Bonuses to non-SCS staff | ||||
| Grade | Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2007-08 | Amount 2007 | Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2008 | Amount 2008 |
| End-year Bonuses to SCS staff | ||
| Grade | Number of Staff Receiving Bonus | Amount |
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What regard is paid in calculating bonus figures for officials in the Northern Ireland Office to officials' attitude to identity, ethos, the aspirations of both communities and parity of esteem. [HL6377]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Details of the calculation of bonus awards for officials in the Northern Ireland Office were set out in the Answer given on 5 November 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 69).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the payment of bonuses to some officials of the Northern Ireland Office was approved by the relevant trade unions. [HL6491]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The relevant trade unions have been consulted about the payment of bonuses to officials of the Northern Ireland Office, during pay negotiations.
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