§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department with regard to the communication by chief constables to employers of the fact that an employee has been convicted of a criminal offence, stating the categories of 427W employment and the categories of offence in respect of which such communication is made;and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:In accordance with arrangements announced to the House by my predecessor on 14th June 1973, and approved by successive Administrations since then, the police report certain convictions of civil servants and the staff of the Post Office and United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to their employers. The convictions reported are chiefly those involving violence, indecency, dishonesty, drink or drugs, because they may reflect on a person's suitability to continue in his particular public employment. Reports are similarly made to the appropriate professional bodies in the case of the convictions of persons with responsibility in the fields of medicine, child care and the administration of the law.