§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public and which remain private. [14030]
§ Mr. HoramMy Department has a good record for publishing internal guidance documents. In the last 12 months, examples include
Department of Health: Public Health, the National Health Service and Social Care: Statement of Responsibilities and Accountabilities.NHS Executive Business Plan—1995–96.Guidance to NHS bodies—71 health service guidelines were issued in 1995.The NHS Priorities and Planning Guidance for 1996–97 issued to all health authorities, trusts and general practitioners and freely available to others who have requested them.Guide to the NHS, published in March circulated to all parts of the NHS to explain to staff and the public how the NHS works and the basis on which it works.The Medicines Control Agency's updating "Mail", issued bimonthly, giving guidance on new operational procedures and information on licensing times.Copies of these documents, along with the Department's own guidance to staff on the code of practice on access to Government information, issued in April 1994, have been placed in the Library.
368WThis guidance makes it clear that any requests for information about administrative manuals and internal guidance should be dealt with in accordance with the code of practice. Each particular request should be individually assessed, and non-disclosure of information should occur only where the exemptions in part II of the code apply.