Sex Offenders (Hansard, 10 July 1996)

§ Mrs. Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of employees of his Department who have committed sexual offences against children, from among those listed in "Sentencing and Supervision of Sex Offenders" while serving, and for which they were subsequently prosecuted, since 1972. [36521]

§ Mr. Bowis
I know of none.

§ Mrs. Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department keeps a list of suspected sex offenders. [36528]

§ Mr. Bowis
No. The Department's consultancy service index contains details of some ex-child care workers who have resigned, been dismissed, or moved less sensitive posts in circumstances which suggest that the welfare or safety of children has been, or may be, put at risk.

§ Mrs. Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of employees or volunteers in voluntary organisations who have committed sexual offences against children, while serving and for which they were subsequently prosecuted since 1972. [36520]

§ Mr. Bowis
This information is not collected.

§ Mrs. Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in respect of those lists of convicted sex offenders held by his Department which may be consulted(a) the number of names on each list currently, (b) those who have access to each list, (c) what the lists are used for, (d) how long it takes on average to check a reference with such lists, (e) under what circumstances people are placed on the lists and (f) how the procedure described in (e) above is conveyed to local authorities. [36527]

§ Mr. Bowis
The Department operates a consultancy service, which enables local authorities and private and voluntary child care organisations in England and Wales to check on the suitability of those they propose to employ to work with children.
Procedures for making referrals to the consultancy index are set out in circulars to local authorities and child care organisations issued jointly by my Department, the Home Department, the Department for Education and Employment and the Welsh Office.
Employers are encouraged to notify names to the consultancy service index in circumstances where a member of their staff has put the welfare of children at risk. There is no requirement for a conviction before referring a name to the index.
235W
The index also contains the names of child care workers, or former child care workers, notified to the Department by the police following conviction for certain offences. In addition, it incorporates the Department for Education and Employment's list 99, a register of staff barred for working in educational establishments.
Checks against the index are normally processed within 24 hours of receipt of an inquiry. If a positive identification is made, the prospective employer is advised to seek a reference from the organisation which referred the name to the index.