§ Mr. Baron:To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Medway Care Agency was included on the Government's approved list of recruitment agencies who have signed up to the code of practice on ethical recruitment; [176293]
(2) when the approved list regarding those agencies who had signed up to the Government's code of practice on ethical recruitment was made available to the South Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; and how they were made aware of its existence; [176294]
(3) whether Mr. Tawanda Machigura was recruited directly from Zimbabwe by the Medway Care Agency; between what dates hi was on Medway Care Agency's lists; and what work he had undertaken prior to signing up with Medway Care Agency. [176394]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 27 May 2004]: The Medway Care Agency is not on the Government's approved list of agencies which adhere to the Code of Practice for International Recruitment. The Code was issued to all Trusts in October 2001. From inquiries made by the Department, it is understood that Mr. Tawanda Machigura was recruited by the Medway Care Agency in England, not from Zimbabwe. It is not known what work he had undertaken prior to signing up with the Medway Care Agency or between what dates he was on their lists.