§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that voluntary organisations do not suffer financial penalties as a result of the requirement to check all volunteers with the Criminal Records, Bureau. [142534]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Criminal Records Bureau is being established under Part V of the Police Act 1997, which does not lay down a legal requirement for all volunteers to be subject to checks through the Bureau. Checks will be carried out on individuals on application. The fees to be charged for such checks have not yet been settled, but they will be as low as possible. Before making regulations setting the fees, we shall carry out a regulatory impact assessment to consider the implications for voluntary organisations and other users of the bureau's service. The outcome will be made public.