§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish a table in theOfficial Report showing for each local authority area in England and Wales the total number of attacks on members of local authority social services departments during the course of their duties, for each year since 1979, with the annual percentage changes;
(2) what consultation has taken place between the Government and professional bodies regarding physical attacks on members of local authority social services departments during the course of their duties;
(3) what steps the Government intends to take to monitor and combat the risks of physical assault faced by social workers in the course of their duties.
§ Mr. NewtonInformation is not held centrally about the numbers of attacks made on employees by clients of local authority social services departments. A departmental advisory committee has reviewed the problem of physical assaults on staff working in the health and personal social services and in the social security organisation. Its findings, with recommendations for action locally, will be published shortly. These will reinforce advice on the prevention and containment of violent incidents provided in 1987 by both the Association of Directors of Social Services and by the Health Services Advisory Committee of the Health and Safety Commission. The major professional interests concerned with social services were represented on the advisory committee and on a consultative group established by the chief inspector of the Department's social services inspectorate.