§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will provide funds to help voluntary organisations pay the proposed fee for security checks on volunteers. [147372]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Criminal Records Bureau will issue certificates, on application, to individuals. An announcement about the fees that the bureau will charge will be made as soon as possible. It will be a matter for employers (or others, including voluntary organisations) to decide whether to reimburse the cost incurred by individuals. Waiving charges in respect of some or all of those in the voluntary sector would inevitably impose an additional burden on the Exchequer or result in a higher charge for others using the bureau, who may be no less deserving than those in the voluntary sector. But we have made clear our determination to keep the level of fees to a minimum.