§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when further guidance will be issued to registered bodies about the postponement of Criminal Records Bureau checks. [84607]
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§ Mr. Miliband[holding answer 2 December 2002]: My Department wrote to local education authorities last week about the need to manage demand for CRB Disclosures. The letter advised authorities that, for the time being, CRB checks should not be sought for school governors.
It also provided further advice about checking school volunteers and confirmed that the arrangements we put in place in September to enable staff and volunteers in schools to start work in advance of receiving a CRB Disclosure at the discretion of the head teacher will continue until the Secretary of State is satisfied that the CRB is reliably providing a service that meets the needs of the education service.
Parallel guidance is being sent to all schools next week.