Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans 351W (a) to create a register of volunteers and (b) to require charities to check the register of volunteers before accepting volunteers. [140178]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Government have provided funding for TimeBank, an initiative which, in partnership with the voluntary sector and the BBC, is designed to promote voluntary activity and inspire people to give time. Volunteers are able to give time by registering with TimeBank by internet, by telephone or by post. TimeBank then uses the database to match people's time to volunteering opportunities in local communities. The Government do not require charities or those seeking to use volunteers to check with the TimeBank database before accepting volunteers.