§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2002,Official Report, column 57W, on private medical insurance, what plans (a) Norfolk, (b) Thames Valley, (c) Hertfordshire and (d) Bedfordshire police authorities have to make private medical insurance available to their staff; what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects on police officer availability of such plans; and if he will make a statement. [37190]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 28 February 2002]: None of these police forces make private medical insurance available to police officers and support staff.
481WWe are currently developing an occupational health strategy for the police service which will encourage measures which will help to reduce sickness absence rates and increase police officer availability.