§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target has been in each of the last five years for efficiency savings as a percentage of total running costs for each of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible; and if the target was met. [49635]
§ Ms BlearsThe information sought is available in the annual reports and accounts of these bodies, which are available in the Library.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of whether the target to reduce by 20 per cent. by 2001–02 the number of absences by staff caused by violence will be met. [47362]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department conducted a survey of sickness absence, accidents and violence in national health service trusts in England in 1998–99. The survey found that there were approximately 65,000 violent incidents against NHS trust staff recorded each year. A further survey of recorded violent incidents in 2000–01 has been conducted, and the figures are currently being analysed by the Department. The figures will be published as soon as the Department is satisfied the figures are sufficiently robust and reflect NHS trust mergers and other organisational changes in the NHS. The 2000–01 figures will form the baseline for measuring progress against the Government's national improvement targets.
Information on levels of sickness absence resulting from violence at work is not collected centrally, but may be held at a local level by individual national health service employers.