§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to require annual disclosure to parents of all convictions of offences involving indecency recorded against teachers in schools attended by their children; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FallonMy right hon. and learned Friend does not plan to introduce such legislation. Applicants for teaching posts are already obliged to disclose any criminal convictions they have incurred to the prospective employer, and employers are able to check applicants' declarations by reference to police records. In addition, when a serving teacher is convicted of a criminal offence the police report the conviction both to the teacher's employer and to the Department.