Smoking (Hansard, 3 April 2003)

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when he next plans to review the Approved Code of Practice for the White Papers, "Smoking Kills"; [105771]
(2) when he next plans to meet hospitality trade representatives to discuss the implications of passing the Approved Code of Practice; [105772]
(3) if he will review the costs and benefits of smoking restrictions in the work place. [105773]
844W
home unseen from their medical assessment by SchlumbergerSema since May 2002; and if he will make a statement. [105366]

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
Of 517,806 customers who attended SchlumbergerSema's Medical Examination Centres for assessments between 1 May 2002 and 28 February 2003, 17,667 or less than 3.5 per cent. were sent home unseen. Customers may be sent home for a number of reasons, including those arriving more than 30 minutes late for their appointment and declining to wait until the doctor can see them.

§ Paul Holmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with SchlumbergerSema concerning performance levels since the re-awarding of its contract; and if he will make a statement. [105367]

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
The performance of SchlumbergerSema is formally reviewed against all contracted service levels on a monthly basis. This practice has been continuous since the original contract went live in September 1998.

§ Paul Holmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many representations(a) his Department, (b) SchlumbergerSema, (c) the Benefits Agency and (d) Jobcentre Plus have received concerning the performance of SchlumbergerSema in conducting benefits medical assessments in each of the months since the contract was first awarded; and if he will make a statement. [105368]

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
Medical Services' performance is regularly monitored to ensure people's capacity for work is fairly assessed. The latest figures show that the level of complaints as a proportion of examinations completed has fallen from 0.63 per cent. for quarter ending November 2000 to 0.43 per cent. for the quarter ending February 2003.
The available information is in the table.

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
The Government are currently looking at possible options to reduce the exposure of people to tobacco smoke. We will announce our conclusions in due course about how best we will achieve further progress in this area.