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28/01                                                                                                

6 March 2001

 

OVER 100 INNOVATIVE PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECTS                                     

WIN UP TO £60 million FUNDING

Young people will soon be benefiting from training by retired military instructors as part of a drive to cut juvenile crime and raise education standards.  This is just one example from over 100 innovative projects put forward by a wide range of partnerships, involving central Government Departments, local authorities, police, health authorities and many others that will be receiving good news today.  

Chief Secretary Andrew Smith and Cabinet Office Minister Graham Stringer, have announced that 123 projects, exploring new and imaginative ways of delivering key public services, are the winners of funding totalling £60 million over the next three years.

The Invest to Save Budget is aimed at providing support for projects that involve two or more public bodies getting together to deliver services that are innovative, joined up, locally responsive and more efficient. This, the third round of the Invest to Save Budget, includes bids for funds from local authorities and health authorities, among others.

Andrew Smith commented:

“Investment and innovation are both needed to modernise public services and improve their delivery.  Partnership working between providers can provide a powerful means of improving service delivery.  The Invest to Save Budget (ISB) provides a source of “venture capital” for providers who want to join forces with others to provide better services.

The projects that the ISB has supported to date are starting to make a real difference. For example, by starting to reduce the time it takes to buy a house and piloting ways of speeding up criminal case handling.

The third round of projects adds to this impressive list.  They will tackle the issues which matter to citizens, including crime, health, and education. And they will make access to services much easier and seize the opportunities provided by new technology to streamline government.”     

Projects include:

  • Police Direct – a project that will explore the services the police and criminal justice organisations should provide “on-line”. It will develop a police portal to provide services electronically to the citizen in the most efficient and cost effective manner and publicise the use of “Police Direct”. The project aims at raising awareness of police portals and highlighting the benefits of working on-line.

  • Skill Force – a project which brings together MoD with DfEE, Home Office and others to use retired military instructors in a number of pilot schemes to train disaffected 15-16 year olds. This innovative project is modelled on a successful US scheme and seeks to reduce truancy and exclusion, cut juvenile crime and raise educational attainment.

  • 21st Century Citizen – a project that will support the inclusion of citizenship as a National Curriculum subject by pooling resources of the ONS, Public Record Office and British Library to create an on-line resource for schools.

Speaking at a special Invest to Save Budget conference in London, Mr Stringer emphasised the benefits of partnership within the public service:

“The projects we are announcing today demonstrate innovative partnership, alongside effective approaches to risk identification and management.

Modernising Government is about making a step change in the quality of our public services.  The public sector is often accused of being too risk adverse and of being slow to react to social and technological changes.  The Invest to Save Budget is a key tool for encouraging public service providers to pioneer new ways of delivering joined-up public services that are responsive to peoples real needs and expectations.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Invest to Save Budget (ISB) is a joint Treasury/Cabinet Office initiative. It provides support for projects which increase the extent of joint working between different parts of government, identify innovative ways of delivering public services and reduce the cost of delivering the services and/or improve the quality and effectiveness of services delivered to the public. This is the third round of the ISB. A fourth round is planned for later in the Spring.

2.  It is expected that a total of £380million will be spent on ISB projects over the period to 2003-04. Round One was restricted to central government departments and their agencies. In the second and third rounds local authorities, police and fire authorities, health authorities, non-departmental public bodies and public corporations could also apply.

3. Bids are assessed by an official committee, chaired by the Treasury and on which the Cabinet Office is represented. Bids are assessed using a pre-determined set of criteria. The official committee makes recommendations to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury who makes the final decision on the winners after consulting with the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

4. Winning projects have to agree an implementation plan with the Treasury and the Cabinet Office. Each project has to provide six-monthly progress reports and carry out an evaluation of its success once it has been completed. Projects running for longer than a year also have to carry out an interim evaluation exercise.

5. A list of the winning projects is attached to this notice.

6. Graham Stringer is Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office. He was speaking at the Invest to Save Budget Conference at Church House Conference Centre, London. The event was attended by over 300 delegates representing public sector service providers, policy makers and the private sector.  

7. For more information about the projects highlighted in the press notice     contact: 

8. For the Police Direct project: Chief Inspector Bob Kennett, PITO Policy and Planning Unit, New Kings Bean House, 22 Upper Ground, London. Telephone 0208 358 5433 E-mail:robert.kennett@pito.pnn.police.uk

9. For the 21st century citizen project: Greg Hayman, Press Office, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. Telephone 020 7412 7116 Email: greg.hayman@bl.uk

10. For the Skill Force project: Sarah Haywood, Ministry of Defence. Telephone 0207 218 3253. Email: press@dgics.mod.uk

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INVEST TO SAVE BUDGET – ROUND 3 WINNERS:

Project Number
Lead Partner
Description of Project
 Project Cost        £'000s
       
140 Cabinet Office To effect, through e-learning, an exchange of competences and skills between public and voluntary sectors to enable users of the latter's services to play a full part in building and sustaining community based services and partnerships.                    100
Contact: Catherine Inskip Tel: 01344 634510 E-mail: catherine.inskip@cscollege.gov.uk  
141 DCMS/British Library To create an online resource for teaching Citizenship, a compulsory National Curriculum subject, in secondary schools from September 2002.                    312
Contact: Karen Brookfield  Tel: 020 7412 7783 E-mail: karen.brookfield@bl.uk  
142 DCMS/Sport England Innovative interactive pilot scheme aimed at utilising sport via the internet as a key inclusion vehicle to support the work of key agencies working with disaffected and socially excluded young people                    137
Contact: Stewart Kellett Tel: 01995 642340 E-mail: Skellett@myerscough.ac.uk  
143 DETR To provide an interactive database and web-site, to create a  one stop shop for the purchase of navigation licences and access to relevant inland waterways information.                    300
    Contact: Eileen McKeever Tel: 01454 624 373 E-mail: eileen.mckeever@environment-agency.gov.uk  
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144 DETR To improve future Met Office forecasts of pollution levels in and around urban environments and thereby provide early warning to vulnerable sections of the community whilst permitting healthcare services to prepare for increased demand.                    782
Contact: David Smith Tel: 01684 896 636 E-mail: dasmith@dera.gov.uk  
145 DETR Pilot project to gather electronic height data and to develop signal-processing algorithms to produce an enhanced electronic terrain height model.                    100
Contact: Ian Locker Tel: 01684 896 636 E-mail: ilocker@dera.gov.uk  
146 DETR HSE in partnership with EA and SEPA will develop a web based information system supporting Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations and allowing public access to data on hazardous sites.                    200
Contact: Wendy Rimmer Tel: 0151 951 4247 E-mail: wendy.rimmer@hse.gsi.gov.uk  
147 DETR The development  of an interactive electronic risk assessment tool and practical control advice to help firms manage the health, safety and environmental risks from chemicals.                    250
Contact: Michael Topping Tel: 020 7717 6247 E-mail: michael.topping@hse.gsi.gov.uk  
148 DETR The project will develop an electronic interface for the use of all local authorities in England to facilitate the electronic transfer of data thereby facilitating all applications to and decisions from the Rent Service to be conducted electronically.                 1,763
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Contact: Norman Foster Tel: 01604 232242 E-mail: norman.foster@therentservice.gov.uk  
149 DfEE An early diagnostic tool for childhood dyslexia enabling advanced military technology to be applied to educational screening for recognised behaviours.                    100
Contact Dr Helen Dudfield Tel: 01252 393 365 E-mail: hjdudfield@dera.gov.uk  
150 DfEE To establish and oversee a web site which will provide an interesting, interactive debating chamber for children, staff and police to exchange views on chosen aspects of Citizenship.To enable children to respect themselves, other’s values and beliefs and the environment.                    100
Contact: Liam McGurrin Tel: 0114 248 5009 E-mail: fisher@rmplc.co.uk  
151 Lambeth Education Action Zone To improve communication between parents, children, schools and the agencies they are involved with by facilitating the provision of an entirely free Internet Service Provider (ISP) and an advanced Web Portal.                    295
Contact: James Nicola Tel: 020 7926 9496 E-mail: jnicola@lambeth.gov.uk  
152 DfEE This programme comprises a number of interfaced projects which will redesign the existing traditional, paper-based marking and data capture processes to produce a redesigned model involving electronic imaging, marking and direct data capture.                 2,838
Contact: Jeremy Cuthbert Tel: 020 7509 5385 E-mail: cuthbertj@qca.org.uk  
153 DfEE Project to create a one stop shop where all of Hull's citizens can have their ability and potential assessed, receive encouragement, guidance and mentoring, and tailored advice, including career options.                    496
    Contact: David Windle Tel: 01482 591 208 E-mail: davidw@humbersidetec.co.uk  
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154 DfEE: Tameside College The proposal is to establish a learning management system for Tameside learners.  It uses an internet site with fast connections to colleges.                    245
Contact: Andrew Quarmby Tel: 0161 908 6600 E-mail: andrew.quarmby@tameside.ac.uk  
155 DSS "Appeals Service on Camera - trialling the use of video technology at Social Security Appeal Tribunals, allowing one or more parties to participate without travelling to the venue.
                   100
Contact: Eric Ludlow Tel: 020 7712 2642 E-mail: e.ludlow@new100.dss.gsi.gov.uk  
156 DSS By installing internet enabled PCs and document imaging processing equipment in public, customers will be able to contact DSS and local authorities by email and have evidence, replies etc. scanned and sent electronically to the appropriate body.                      95
Contact: Sharon Crosland Tel: 0113 2327723 E-mail: S.Crosland@new100.dss.gsi.gov.uk  
157 DSS Publication of a benefit and tax credit calculator and associated tutorial on the DSS website for use by Voluntary Sector Advisors and Citizens.                    514
Contact: David Lane Tel: 0115 9803441  E-mail: d.lane@new100.dss.gov.uk  
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158 DSS A two-year project offering, via interactive Digital Television (iDTV), a range of social security services to customers over pension age and to people who are planning for their retirement.                  1,875
Contact: Ian Skinner Tel:0113 2324941
i.skinner@ms02.dss.gsi.gov.uk
 
159 DTI A video conferencing pilot between a Court and an Official Receiver's Office. OR will test the take up by bankrupts of interviews and advice offered via a live video link with the court.                      50
Contact: Lesley Beech Tel: 020 7291 6704 E-mail: Lesley.Beech@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk  
160 DTI To run pilot projects in Birmingham, Cornwall and Fife to provide: debt advice through a telephone helpline; signposting to existing local agencies where face to face advice is required; access to payment disbursement systems for clients.                 1,000
Contact: Trevor Single Tel: 020 7215 0351 E-mail: trevor.single@cacp.dti.gov.uk  
161 DTI Creation of a single gateway to provide information about biotechnology to the public and deliver services to biotechnology companies.                    500
Contact: Dr Nick Munn Tel: 020 7215 2990 E-mail: nick.munn@dti.gsi.gov.uk  
162 DTI The development of facilities to enable exporters apply for Export Licences over the Internet and do away with the need for supporting documents to be submitted in paper form.                 1,458
Contact: Susan Haird Tel: 020 7215 0520 E-mail: Susan.Haird@dti.gsi.gov.uk  
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163 DTI Metrology Connect is a project which aims to bring together current communication developments in the field of legal metrology (weights and measures) in central and local government to establish a single network for communication and the distribution of information.                    111
Tel: 020 8943 7272 E-mail: Info@nwml.dti.gov.uk  
164 HMCE Project tackling drug smugling                    100
   
165 Home Office To explore the services the police and criminal justice organisations should provide on-line and then establish a national internet portal to linked police force websites, with possibilitiies of links to other Criminal Justice System players. The service will be publicised to ensure benefits are fully realised.                 3,970
Contact: Robert Kennet Tel: 020 8358 5426
E-mail: Robert.Kennet@pito.pnn.police.uk
 
166 Home Office: Avon & Somerset Police Local provision of online policing, providing facilities to improve reporting of crime, public information and service delivery to the public.                    459

Contact: Scott Fulton Tel: 01275 816 395
E-mail: ido@avonandsomerset.police.uk

 
167 Home Office: Cleveland Fire Brigade The initiative's aim is to reduce arson attacks in co-action with community needs, sensitive application and financial resources. Action for reduction revolves around four evolving strands: prevention, education, investigation/detection and electronic information exchange.                      83
Contact: Dave Bennett Tel: 01429 872311 x4021 E-mail: dbennett@clevelandfire.gov.uk  
168 Home Office To develop a comprehensive pool of information on equalities, particularly aimed at members of the public, to improve and extend the quality and range of information given on equality issues.                    763
Contact: Susie Parsons/Carol Larkin Tel: 020 7932 5248 E-mail: sparsons@cre.gov.uk  
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169 Home Office: Criminal Case Review Commission The project will implement GSI links in both the Commission and the Court of Appeal to enable files and other information to be accessed and transferred electronically. The project can be developed further by both parties and can be extended to other public bodies.                    371
Contact: David Robson Tel: 0121 633 1800 E-mail:ccrc@gtnet.gov.uk  
170 Home Office: Office of the Information Commissioner Combined approach to identifying agencies who procure personal information by deception from data custodians.                    100
Contact: Jean Lockett Tel: 01625 545 717 E-mail: Mail@dataprotection.gov.uk  
171 Home Office: Dyfed-Powys Police Intelligence led network of agencies to identify vulnerable citizens and property and reduce crime in the local area.                    325
Contact: Steve White E-mail: Acpo@dyfed-powys.police.uk  
172 Home Office: Leicestershire Police Developing common referral systems between landlords, police and other service providers for serious cases of anti social behaviour, reducing tenancy turnover; the number of void properties; and the number of serious anti social behaviour cases.                    195
Contact: Jez Leavesley Tel: 0116 2483370  E-mail: corp.dev-lc@btinternet.com  
173 Home Office: Merseyside Probation An evaluation of current data and management information concerning alcohol related crime in the Liverpool City Police district. An agreed new system for recording such crime across agencies which informs: future joint policy development; policing and licensing decisions; joint commissioning decisions to invest and develop alcohol services; and improves public safety.                      70
Contact: Neil Hope Tel: 0151 666 0400 E-mail: mpspartner@cix.co.uk  
174 Home Office: Merseyside Police To utilise a partnership approach to identify truants and to carry out intervention work. The project will concentrate on the causes of truancy - bullying, educational underachievement, psychological disorders, lack of parental supervision, peer pressure - and will consider the social impact it has and put into place potential remedies.                      99
Contact: John Young/Ian Shaw Tel: 0151 777 2201  E-mail: AreaOperationsManagerA2@Merseyside.Police.co.uk  
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175 Home Office: Norfolk Constabulary This project seeks to establish a mobile contact facility that will take public services to the customer. Services include higher profile policing in rural areas; access to benefits advice and services; outreach service to asylum seekers; and general advice from Citizens Advice Bureau.                      79
Contact: Rupert Birtles E-mail: Rupert.birtles.pol@norfolk.gov.uk  
176 Home Office: Northumbria Police Local project to build and provide interactive policing services via the Internet, which are customer focused, socially inclusive, easy to use and cost effective.  These services will support existing police availability and provide opportunities to save money through front and back office process improvements.                    543
Contact: Paul Leighton Tel: 01661 868003 E-mail: command.team@northumbria.police.uk  
177 Home Office Pilot study for data sharing between agencies to enhance targetting of services to vulnerable groups.                    115
Contact: Paul Woods/Ivan Deith Tel: 0115 967 0880 E-mail: Nottit@nottingham.fire-uk.org  
178 Home Office Pilot fingerprint based ID and verification service to electronically validate individuals from arrest to release.                    198
Contact: Clive Reedman Tel: 020 8358 5546 E-mail: clive.reedman@pito.pnn.police.uk  
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179 Home Office This project will develop two Short-Term Offender Programmes (STOP) aimed at problems associated with imprisonment – homelessness, unemployment, financial difficulties, drug and alcohol abuse - carried out during custody and after release to reduce re-offending rates.                 2,289
Contact: Sue James Tel: 020 7217 5051  
180 Home Office Delivery of Web oriented modular substance misuse training, for communities and a wide range of professionals, ensuring a sustainable pool of trained people/professionals who will be recruited/’upskilled’ for drug treatment agencies.                    754
Contact: Sue Billingham Tel: 01952 290 888 x 5926 E-mail: Police@malinsagate.demon.co.uk  
181 Home Office To set up video links between youth offending teams and custodial units in the juvenile sector to increase contact between young people and reduce the amount of time spent travelling to and from secure establishments.                 1,149
Contact: Robert Newman Tel: 020 7271 3123 E-mail: robert.newman@yjb.gsi.gov.uk  
182 Home Office The projects will employ restorative justice techniques with victims and offenders to address street robbery and bullying among school children in London schools where these problems are common.                     811
Contact: Judy Renshaw E-mail: Judy.Renshaw@yjb.gsi.gov.uk Lionel.Smith@yjb.gsi.gov.uk  
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183 Inland Revenue Introduction of an electronic NINO tracing and verification process to speed up contact between employer and Inland Revenue when new employee starts work. Will prevent fraud.                    489
184 LCD To provide consultancy to support the introduction of guidelines relating to the architecture and quality of websites providing legal information and advice to the public.                      98
Contact: Colin Main Tel: 020 7210 8542 E-mail: colin.main@lcdhq.gsi.gov.uk  
185 MAFF/CEFAS This project aims to provide for the administration of the scheme to control the use and discharge of offshore chemicals by the oil and gas industry within UK waters to be changed to a completely electronic format. Includes an interactive website giving 'hazard ranking' of such chemicals.                    195
Contact: Robin Law Tel: 01621 787271 E-mail: r.j.law@cefas.co.uk  
186 MAFF: Sea Fish Industry Authority A joint project to develop standards and digital resources for fishing vessel navigation                    300
Contact: John Tumilty Tel: 01482 327837 E-mail: j_tumilty@seafish.co.uk  
187 MAFF The establishment of a 'joint marine consents unit' to serve as a single point of application for consents from both DETR & MAFF Departments simultaneously on one application form for a range of marine works                    100
Contact: Nicola Sullivan Tel: 020 7238 5872 E-mail: nicola.sullivan@maff.gsi.gov.uk  
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188 MAFF/PSD Development of a process model and pilot system to support the electronic delivery of legally admissible regulatory end-products for pesticides.                    100
Contact: Shaun McGarry Tel: 01904 455 803 E-mail: s.mcgarry@psd.maff.gsi.gov.uk  
189 Home Office The Domestic Violence Partnership Project will test out its effectiveness as a multi-agency approach in enabling victims to prevent further repeat assaults.  This innovative idea places a DV Officer alongside Police in Plaistow Community Safety Unit to target short and long term interventions to victims.                     427
Contact: Keith Fraser Tel: 020 7275 5707 E-mail: Simon.Letchford@met.police.uk  
190 Department of Health The project will use existing NHS data to develop an operational workload forecasting system based on latest Met Office forecast technology, improving cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The model will predict variations in NHS emergency workload, with forecasts delivered electronically to NHS emergency services                 1,139
Contact: Andy Yateman (Press Office) 01344 856 655  
191 MOD Skill Force is an innovative project which uses retired military instructors to provide Key Skills training to young people aged 14-16 in schools. The aim is to enhance their achievements inschool and subsequent employment prospects.                 1,500
Contact: Sarah Haywood (Press Office) 020 7261 8854  
192 MOD To provide a secure internet based e-Trade Exchange for the effective dispossal and marketing of surplus equipment, and for handling waste, across the public sector.                    820
Contact: Keith Ellender 020 7261 8968 Colin MacPhee 020 7261 8854  
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193 Office of Fair Trading A secure website providing OFT and seven sector regulators with a knowledge base and facilities for information exchange relating to Competition Act 1998                      98
Contact: Chris Portman E-mail: Chris.Portman@oft.gov.uk  
194 Office of Fair Trading To develop an electronic system with public and private areas containing database and text elements to support the work of OFT and other regulatory bodies under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, and other legislative areas where powers are shared.                  1,453
Contact: Chris Portman E-mail: Chris.Portman@oft.gov.uk  
195 Ordnance Survey The project's aim is to enable the integration of terrestrial and marine topographic data held by BGS, OS, and UKHO, so that this can be accessed readily by users, to satisfy diverse coastal zone applications and services.                    450
Contact: Ross Christie Tel: 023 8079 2862 E-mail: rchristie@ordsvy.gov.uk  
196 Ashfield Primary Care Group Development of electronic medical records, web based advice, and role of a Service Advisor, in order to provide necessary infrastructure for a range of approaches supporting patient independence.                    390
Contact: Leah Bate Tel: 01623 559 568 E-mail: leah.bate@nnotts-ha.nhs-uk  
197 Barking & Havering Health Authority A pilot shared-access electronic register of young people who self-harm. The aims are to facilitate joint working between health and social services, to improve the quality, effectiveness and value for money of assessment and care services to this group of vulnerable young people.                      80
Contact: Dr Christopher Watts Tel: 020 8532 6356 E-mail: Chris.C.Watts@PH.barkhav-ha.nthames.nhs.uk  
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198 Barnet Health Authority Aim of project is to provide patients and families with direct and electronic access to advice, information and support in order to help resolve and deal with underlying social causes or consequences of medical conditions                      91
Contact: Ray Westscott Tel: 0208 201 4700 E-mail: ray.westscott@barnet-ha.nthames.nhs.uk  
199 Brent & Harrow Health Authority To develop an information and interactive web site to provide advice and guidance on drug and alcohol related issues to the residents of the London Borought of Brent.                    100
200 Cambridgeshire Health Authority Electronic network to provide regional advice and information service for relatives of prisoners which is responsive, flexible and accessible. This will build on current telephone helpline service provided by HARP (Help and Advice for Relatives of Prisoners) and create a website to extend the information base.                      75
Contact: Charlotte Black Tel: 01480 398 558 E-mail: charlotte.black@cambs-ha.nhs.uk  
201 Croydon Health Authority To utilise the opportunity of the establishment of NHS Direct to coordinate other health and social care out-of-hours services operating in Croydon. To ensure access to out-of-hours care is as simple and straightforward as possible.                    100
Contact: Helen Cameron Tel: 020 8401 3949 E-mail: Helen.Cameron@croydon-ha.sthames.nhs.uk  
202 Department of Health This project will embark on developing a unified tool to bridge the communication barrier between deaf-blind individuals and the society they live in. The tool will be universally applicable to all existing communication languages (Braille, Deaf-blind manual alphabet, etc.).                    460
Contact: Tony Buttle Tel: 0239 233 5550  
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203 Doncaster Health Authority Project will develop up to six GP practices as sites for accessing wider community health and social support services                    421
Contact: Liz Axe Tel: 01302 381920 E-mail: Liz.Axe@Doncaster-HA.Trent.NHS-uk  
204 Dudley Health Authority To pilot an arrest referral scheme for alcohol related offenders in Dudley, to reduce alcohol related re-offending and harm. Courts will remand on bail offenders who plead guilty, affording the opportunity to attend two sessions of cognitive behavioural alchohol intervention delivered by specialist alchohol workers which could be part of the pre-sentence report process. The scheme will be evaluated with a view to national dissemination                    100
Contact: Richard Rogerson Tel: 01384 239376 x 5220 E-mail: gill.higginbotham@bull.dudley-ha.wmids-nhs.uk  
205 Kent & Medway Drug Action Team The development of an IT based information network in relation to drug and substance misuse giving the public and practitioners relevant help, support and information                      90
206 Drug and Alchohol Action Teams Kingston and Richmond The ABC project will deliver electronic interventions (Harm Reduction Advice, Assessment and Referral) to marginalised individuals currently beyond the reach of conventional substance misuse services. Developing an Interactive Internet web across Drug Action Team Agencies and a secure Intranet system improving service delivery.                    325
Contact: Rankin Barr Tel: 020 8831 6195 E-mail: R.Barr@richmond.gov.uk  
207 North Nottinghamshire Health Authority Establish multi agency teams for disabled children & families. Will include electronic data sharing, website and e-mail helpline                    316
Contact: Christine Hopton Tel: 01623 414114 E-mail: Christine.Hopton@nnotts-ha.nhs.uk  
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208 North Primary Care Group Internet based system for pre booking Demand Responsive Transport Services                    107