§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will initiate inquiries to see whether information is ever provided by the police to employers in relation to the recruitment of individuals;
(2) what instructions he has issued to the Metropolitan police about provision of information to the Economic League or its officials.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe principles governing the disclosure of police information to potential employers and others are set out in section 17 of the consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters and Home Office circular 45/1986. A joint departmental circular issued on 17 July 1986 (Home Office circular 44/1986) sets out the arrangements for checks on people seeking positions in local authorities that give substantial access to children. Copies of these circulars are in the Library. We see no need to issue separate guidance to the Metropolitan police on these arrangements, which do not allow for the disclosure of information to private organisations such as the Economic League.