§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that the same vetting procedure applies to United Kingdom and non-United Kingdom applicants for teaching posts after 1992.
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§ Mr. Alan HowarthI refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend gave to him on Tuesday 10 July at columns 160–61.
Recruitment of teachers including vetting their suitability is a matter for LEAs and school governors as employers. Since 1984, arrangements have existed for local authorities to check against police records for any criminal convictions, but the information available does not extend to convictions incurred outside the United Kingdom. This facility, however, is not intended to replace effective recruitment procedures including taking up references with previous employers. LEAs have for many years successfully recruited and employed teachers from outside the United Kingdom, but I shall consider whether there is any practicable way to strengthen the procedures relating to overseas teachers.