§ Mr. Chris DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been issued to police forces by the Home Office recommending that the carrying out of police checks on voluntary school helpers be discontinued; and if he will make a statement. [12302]
§ Mr. MacleanNo such advice has been issued. The relevant guidance on the criteria which justify carrying out a criminal record check on people working in schools, whether as paid employees or as volunteers, is currently set out in Home Office circular 47/93. This states that, in order for a person to be subject to a police check, the post for which he or she is applying
should entail a substantial level of access to children which may also be unsupervised, and will be regular or sustained.These criteria were first agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers in 1986 and have not changed.
Contractor Contract started Length of contract Original contract price Wolds Group 4 1 April 1992 5 years £29.87 million: estimate over 5 years when contract awarded Blakenhurst UKDS 26 May 1993 5 years £57 million Doncaster PPS 20 June 1994 5 years £66 million Buckley Hall Group 4 14 December 1994 5 years £33 million