§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for personal social services of the possible introduction of charging for police checks on individual criminal records.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe effect of the possible introduction of charging for vetting checks is raised in paragraphs 64 to 70 of the Home Office consultation paper entitled "Disclosure of criminal records for employment vetting purposes"—Cm 2319—laid before the House on 9 September. Question 6 of the paper specifically invites comments on charging. The paper is available to local authorities and local authority associations. The consultation period expires on 31 December when further consideration will be given to this matter in the light of comments made.