§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the company Reliance employed by the Highways Agency for work on the Newbury bypass has carried out checks on staff for previous criminal convictions. [15295]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Mike Gapes, dated 20 February 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if the company Reliance Security Services Limited employed by the Highways Agency for work on the Newbury Bypass has carried out checks on staff for previous criminal convictions.Reliance are not employed by the Highways Agency. They are employed by the site clearance contractor. It is a requirement of the Highways Agency that sub-contracted security companies are members of the British Security Industry Association and meet British Standard 7499 covering static guards and mobile patrols.I understand that to comply with these requirements, Reliance policy is to make detailed checks for criminal convictions going back five years before they employ someone. A further check going back 10 years is then made within three months of employment.