§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Records Bureau will start operating; on what date it was planned to start operating; what the reasons are for the delay; and if he will make a statement. [8452]
§ Mr. DenhamThe establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has long been recognised as a complex and challenging project. This was acknowledged in the report of the Home Affairs Committee published on 28 March, which also perceived that the crucial consideration should be to ensure that the service that the CRB will provide is both robust and effective, rather than aim for a particular date to begin operating.
The registration process began on 1 May. The target date for commencing the issue of Standard and Enhanced Disclosures has been kept under review as the project has progressed. Latterly, the target date was November. But, in the light of an independent review, it has been decided to add two further stages prior to the commencement of live operations. These will enable the CRB's disclosure service to be rigorously tested in a simulated operational environment, in order to provide added confidence in the bureau's state of preparedness to begin delivering a high standard of service.
450WIt remains the intention to introduce the service on a phased basis. Subject to the testing outlined, it is expected that the CRB will start processing applications at the beginning of March 2002 in respect of cases which are subject to police checks under present arrangements; and all other applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures at the beginning of April.