§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the measures taken since 1979 to improve security of National Health Service property as shown in the letter of 14 November from the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) to the hon. Member for North Norfolk.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. My letter of 14 November was as follows
Ralph Howell Esq. MP
I attach a list of the main initiatives we have taken to improve the security of NHS property. The list is not exhaustive because security considerations often form part of wider activities and it is not possible to search through all the pieces of action which might have had security aspects. I hope you will find the list useful—I think it does show that great attention has been given and is being given to security by our Department and by the NHS.KENNETH CLARKE
PS I do appreciate that we now want all this to begin to show some results.
Security: List of DHSS Initiatives
December 1980
Report of Central Management Services Study on Control of linen services.
523WSeptember 1981
Report of second Central Management Services Study to identify whether losses in system were real.
1981
Departmental Supplies Information Group reported on control of stores by computer based systems followed by issue of Supplies Council Circular (81)3.
1982
A working group of NHS Treasurers reviewed a 1967 report on inventories.
November 1982
Deloittes, Haskins and Sells commissioned to study losses and security of supplies. Reported March 1983.
December 1982
HC(82)19 issued asking health authorities to review their procedures and to develop security strategies.
July 1983
FM(7)83 issued to NHS Treasurers asking them to produce statement to enable identification of unexplained losses.
30 November 1983
Report of Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs issued to health authorities who were asked to comment on improvements in security.
January 1984
Reports received from Regional Health Authorities giving progress on production of security strategies.
May 1984
FM(5)84 to NHS Treasurers asking them to record and report to the Department all discrepancies and unexplained issues of linen and other equipment and property.
1983 and 1984
Department contributed to National Association of Health Authorities Manual on Security.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the measures being taken to improve security of National Health Service property are in proportion to the actual losses from fraud and theft incurred in recent years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe believe that there is scope for improving security in the NHS and that the measures being taken will be cost-effective.