§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he intends to issue a prohibition order under section 3(a) of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 in connection with the case of baby Caroline Jongers; [79243]
(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that parents are informed by employment agencies of the previous employment history of prospective nannies; and if he will make a statement;[79241]
(3) if he intends to exercise his powers under section 5 of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 to make regulations to secure the proper conduct of employment agencies and to protect the interests of clients of such agencies; and if he will make a statement; [79242]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThe Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has carried out a thorough investigation into the employment agency concerned. I am satisfied that there are no grounds on which I should consider initiating action to prohibit the agency. A draft consultation document proposing measures to update the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 1976 made under Section 5 of the 1973 Act was made available to hon. Members on 23 March, and will be formally published shortly. Included are new proposals to require details about the experience, training, ability and qualifications of those seeking to take up a position involving working with children, together with written references, where these can be obtained, to be communicated to potential employers or hirers.