HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc67-9W
Mr. Hammond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the staff/client ratio at the Public Trust Office in each year since 1990. [43957]

Mr. Hoon

It is only from the 1993–94 financial year that caseload figures in the Public Trust Office have been monitored on the same basis. Although figures prior to 1993–94 exist, they have not been formulated in the same manner as those available from that date. On this basis I am able to provide the staff/client ratio from 1993–94.

  • 1993–94: 457 clients per member of staff;
  • 1994–95: 497;
  • 1995–96: 517;
  • 1996–97: 532; and
  • 1997–98: 547.

Mr. Hammond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines are followed by the Public Trust Office to keep next of kin informed about its involvement in each case. [43953]

Mr. Hoon

Both the Court of Protection and the Public Trust Office treat each case on its merits, and endeavour, using the information available, to try and do what the client (the mentally incapable person) would wish. If this involves close liaison and involvement with the next of kin, this is done.

However, the Mental Health area is not required to keep next of kin involved in each case on the grounds of confidentiality. If the individual was not suffering from a mental illness which meant that they were unable to manage their own financial affairs, they would not necessarily wish their next of kin to be informed of the current position regarding their finances. In some cases people would not, under any circumstances, wish next of kin involved in any way whatever. Each case must be judged on its individual merits.

Mr. Hammond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many visitors are employed at the Public Trust Office; and how many visits each made per client in each year since 1990. [43956]

Mr. Hoon

The Public Trust Office assumed responsibility for the Lord Chancellor's General Visitors with effect from April 1996—prior to that the Visitors were employees of the Lord Chancellor's Department. There are currently six General Visitors who are appointed on a self-employed basis. Statistics showing the number of visits completed are available only from 1992–93 and are as follows:

Visits completed
1992–93 1,500
1993–94 1,300
1994–95 850
1995–96 790
1996–97 1,680
1997–98 1,500

Mr. Hammond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff were employed by the Public Trust Office in each year since 1990. [43958]

Mr. Hoon

The figures provided are based on permanent staff in post plus casuals. The figures supplied show full time equivalents and exclude those staff "off strength" e.g. those staff on maternity or career breaks, or on unpaid leave.

Number
1989–90 591.5
1990–91 590
1991–92 580
1992–93 592
1993–94 572
1994–95 528
1995–96 550
1996–97 558.5
1997–98 553

Mr. Faber

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the operation of the Public Trust Office. [43887]

Mr. Hoon

As the Public Trust Office became an executive agency in 1994, it will be subject to the usual Quinquennial agency review which must be completed in 1999. As is normal with such reviews, this will include a review of all the Public Trust Office's functions.