§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions have been given by him to his Departmental staff about the exchanging 401W of files containing confidential and personal information.
§ Sir K. JosephI assume that the hon. Member has in mind information obtained in the administration of social security. As to this, instructions, which embody the Department's long standing policy, provide that information in any of its records concerning individuals is to be regarded as strictly confidential and is not to be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned. Exceptionally, information, but not files, may be disclosed in the departmental and public interest to other Departments or public bodies to prevent the duplication of payments from public funds, to meet statutory or welfare requirements and to assist the police in the prosecution of cases other than trivial crime.
STAFFED BEDS—31ST DECEMBER, 1969 Average number of all beds per 10,000 population (1) Geriatric beds* per 10,000 population (2) General nursing beds (all beds except geriatric, chronic sick and psychiatric) per 10,000 population (3) Ratio of (2) to (3) England 94.2 12.5 41.4 1:3.3 South Western Regional Hospital Board† 105.4 16.5 38.9 1:2.4 West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee 52.5 16.5 33.8 1:2.0 * Includes beds in chronic sick departments, which are occupied mainly by elderly patients. † Includes teaching hospitals.