§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reason the police force is not permitted to recruit diabetics; and what guidance has been issued on the transfer of a diagnosed diabetic from one constabulary to another; [41093]
(2) if he will respond to the letter of the hon. Member for Leominster dated 17 December 2001, on behalf of Mrs. T. A. Smith, a constituent, concerning a transfer to the West Mercia Constabulary. [411971
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 7 March 20021]The Home Office issues no guidance to police forces on the subject of medical standards for officers transferring from one force to another.
Home Office guidance for forces on the recruitment of diabetics is currently under review by independent medical experts as part of the Home Office's National Recruitment Standards project. This work aims to ensure
1062Wthat occupational medical standards for police recruitment are evidence-based, job-related and not unfairly discriminatory. The new standards are expected to be applied consistently by the 43 forces of England and Wales.
The medical review will also take into account the implications of the proposed extension of the employment-related provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to the police.
Recommendations on proposed new medical standards should be available for consultation shortly.
In the meantime, there are current Home Office medical guidelines on the recruitment of new entrants to the police service. These were formulated after consultations between occupational physicians and force medical advisers, and agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Working Group on Organisational Health, Safety and Welfare.
The Working Group further confirmed that the standards should not only reflect "fitness to serve" at the time of assessment, but should also predict, as far as possible, that the individual is likely to remain fit for the full duties of a police constable for the foreseeable future. This is in order to minimise premature retirement on health grounds.
The guidelines on diabetes state that candidates with diabetes mellitus should be rejected.
I responded to the hon. Member's letter of 17 December to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) on 6 March 2002.