HL Deb 23 April 2002 vol 634 cc19-20WA
Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether:

  1. (a) national governing bodies of sport; and
  2. (b) other voluntary organisations, have applied to become:
    1. (i) registered bodies; and
    2. (ii) umbrella bodies,
with the Criminal Records Bureau; and what assessment the Government have made as to whether or not the number is sufficient to cover the expected need for disclosure certificates. [HL3748]

Lord Rooker

Up to 16 April, a total of some 19 national governing bodies of sport had been registered by the Criminal Records Bureau. Of these, five have agreed to act as umbrella bodies.

Information required by the bureau for ordinary registration purposes does not definitively identify voluntary or other status. From additional information required of those indicating that they are prepared to act as umbrella bodies, 118 voluntary bodies have been registered as umbrella bodies.

It is for those wishing to access the bureau's service to decide the most appropriate arrangements for them and it would have been inappropriate to plan on the basis of a pre-determined target number of umbrella bodies. There are good numbers of registered umbrella bodies in each area of England and Wales, with the exception of mid-Wales and North Wales where the numbers are lower. Organisations are continuing to apply for registration and the number of umbrella bodies will increase. Officials are continuing to explore means of developing the network further.