§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's policy on sexual harassment at work; whether guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff; how many complaints have been reported in the past five years; and what disciplinary action has been taken.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Civil Service policy on sexual harassment is set out in the programme of action to achieve equal opportunities for women in the Civil Service which was published by Cabinet Office in 1984. Sexual harassment at work is not tolerated and is dealt with as a disciplinary matter through the normal complaints procedures.
The Department of Health has brought this policy, together with guidance on complaints procedures, to the attention of all staff in a departmental circular. Records are not kept of any complaints which are dealt with by immediate line management but serious complaints are referred to the Department's personnel division for
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National Health Service region 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Northern 2 — 4 — 1 3 5 — 2 1 1 Yorkshire 3 — 1 3 3 1 4 3 4 2 10 Trent 3 2 4 4 6 2 4 6 3 — 2 East Anglia 3 — — 2 2 1 3 — 2 3 1 North West Thames — — 2 3 5 3 — 2 3 1 1 North East Thames 2 — — — 4 — 2 1 1 2 2 South East Thames 3 — — 2 2 — 4 2 1 3 1 South West Thames — — 2 1 — 1 — 1 1 1 1 Wessex 4 — 5 2 3 5 7 5 5 2 7 Oxford 3 1 3 — 5 1 4 1 4 2 5 South Western 4 2 2 — 19 10 18 14 12 9 11 West Midlands — 1 1 4 5 4 7 3 6 9 4 Mersey 5 — — 1 1 3 2 1 5 1 2 North Western 2 3 — 4 8 5 — 2 7 7 2 Wales 1 2 1 4 2 5 4 — 3 3 TOTAL 35 11 25 27 68 41 65 45 56 46 53 appropriate action. Since Department of Health records began in April 1989, following the separation of the Department of Health and Social Security, there have been no such referrals.