§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to help voluntary groups check the suitability of volunteers working with children. [5134]
§ Mr. SackvilleIn 1993, the Home Office, in consultation with the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Employment and the Welsh Office, published a code of practice entitled "Safe from Harm". This offers voluntary organisations with responsibility for the care and welfare of children a guide to good policy and practice in areas such as the recruitment, supervision and management of staff and 659W volunteers. Voluntary organisations can also check directly with the Department of Health's consultancy service whether the names of any of their staff or volunteers appear on lists held by the service of people who have ceased to be employed in circumstances which show that they would be unsuitable to work with children in the future. The consultancy service will also carry out a check against "List 99" which is a list compiled by the Department of Education and Employment of people who, because of previous misconduct, are barred from employment in any school or further educational establishment if their job would involve them in regular contact with children. Further safeguards will be proposed in our forthcoming White Paper on access to criminal records for employment vetting purposes.