HC Deb 19 July 1988 vol 137 cc562-3W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the arrangements for police checks on those seeking work with substantial access to children, applicants will always be shown all information provided by the police which is different from that which they themselves have declared on their application form.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Under paragraph 17 of the Home Office circular (86) 44 on the arrangements for the disclosure of police information about those seeking to work with children in various statutory bodies, all discrepancies between the information supplied by the police and that provided by the applicant must be discussed with the applicant and the applicant is to have the opportunity to see the information provided by the police. Similar procedures apply with those seeking to work with children in independent schools and the National Health Service, and would apply in the proposed scheme for the voluntary sector.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any intention of seeking any further exemptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act to enable police checks to be carried out on those seeking to work with vulnerable groups other than children.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

There are no plans at present to seek further exemptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act to enable police checks to be carried out on those seeking to work with vulnerable groups other than children.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an individual who is denied employment on the basis of a police report, under the arrangements for police checks on those seeking work with substantial access to children, has any right of appeal.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

It is for prospective employers to decide appeal procedures in such cases, since they decide whether to offer employment in the light of the information provided by the police under these arrangements.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements will be made to ensure that information provided by the police to voluntary organisations, under the proposed arrangements for police checks on those applying to work with substantial access to children, is kept secure and confidential.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We are seeking to set up a pilot scheme for the disclosure of police information to the voluntary sector about those seeking to work with children. Participating organisations will be required to make adequate arrangements to ensure the security and confidentiality of any information provided to them, and this aspect will be closely monitored by the project evaluation team.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what aspects of the proposed arrangements for conducting police checks on those seeking work with children in the voluntary sector, will be covered by the arrangements for monitoring the pilot scheme; and whether the confidentiality of the police information will be specifically monitored.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We are discussing the detailed arrangements for a pilot scheme for the disclosure of police information, about those seeking to work with children, with the voluntary sector. The confidentiality of the information provided would be specifically monitored by the project evaluation team. Other aspects proposed for monitoring include:

  • —the scope of the arrangements
  • —the costs of the arrangements
  • —the time taken for processing applications
  • —how the arrangements could be extended to cover locally based voluntary organisations.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the existing arrangements for police checks on those seeking work with substantial access to children, local authorities are currently providing facilities to voluntary organisations in their area to obtain such checks on job applicants and volunteers.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Local authorities are not entitled to seek the disclosure of police information about the staff or volunteers of voluntary organisations under these arrangements. Separate arrangements are being set up for voluntary organisations.