§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why staff at the special hospitals are required to sign the Official Secrets Act; and whether there are any plans to change this.
§ Mr. John PattenStaff in the special hospitals are in the employment of the Crown. They are therefore required to sign the Official Secrets Act declaration in the same way as other Crown employees. This does not, however, inhibit informed discussion of the work of the special hospitals. Responsibility for authorising publications and lectures on the work of these hospitals has been delegated to the local managers who are encouraged by the Department to contribute to informed public discussion of the work which they undertake.
There are no plans to change the present arrangements.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown of the number of juveniles in special hospitals by the hospital, sex, age, section under the Mental Health Act under which they were admitted and date of admission, where the juvenile was admitted following an appearance in court; and what was the offence of which the juvenile was convicted.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information is as follows:
727W
Special Hospital Sex Age Section of the Mental Health Act 1983 Date of Admission Offence (where appropriate) Park Lane M 17 37 28 August 1984 Burglary, ABH, possession of a firearm
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there is any industrial action by trades unions which continues to impede the transfer of special hospital patients to National Health Service hospitals; how prevalent this problem is; and what steps are being taken to facilitate the transfer of special hospital patients.
§ Mr. John PattenWe are not aware of any industrial action which is currently impeding the transfer of special hospital patients to NHS hospitals. On the general question of patient transfers, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 23 July at column416–38.