HC Deb 15 July 2002 vol 389 cc51-3W
Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment she had made of the cost to voluntary sports organisations of undertaking Criminal Records Bureau information checks; and if she will make a statement; [68873]

(2) if she will issue guidelines to voluntary sporting organisations who lack funding to undertake Criminal Records Bureau disclosure information checks; [68832]

(3) what discussions she has had with voluntary organisations and non-Governmental bodies on the cost of Criminal Records Bureau disclosure information checks for volunteers; and if she will make a statement. [68869]

Mr. Caborn

The Department was involved in discussions on the potential costs of the Disclosure service provided by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and supported successful representations to the Home Office that fees should be waived for higher level disclosures for volunteers. The CRB has been fully operational only since 11 March 2002 so hard data on actual costs is not yet available. The CRB itself and the Child Protection in Sport Unit both provide comprehensive guidance on requesting disclosures from the CRB which can be found on their respective websites (www.crb.gov.uk and www.sportprotects.org.uk). The costs to sports organisations deploying volunteers will be minimised because a) the CRB has waived fees on higher level disclosures for volunteers and b) Umbrella Bodies, such as governing bodies, can commission disclosures on behalf of other organisations, enabling them to keep down internal administrative costs. The Department is keeping track of developments in this area through its link with the child Protection in Sport Unit (jointly funded by the NSPCC and Sport England) and other bodies.

Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what additional funding has been made to enable sporting organisations to implement the Criminal Records Bureau disclosure information checks on the use of volunteers. [68872]

Mr. Caborn

No additional funding has been made available by this Department to sporting organisations to pay for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure information checks.

Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the status is of(a) referees and umpires, (b) referees' assistants, (c) match officials and (d) others who receive remuneration for their involvement in sports matches with regard to Criminal Records Bureau disclosure information checks; [68870]

(2) what her definition is of a volunteer for whom Criminal Records Bureau disclosure information checks are necessary. [68871]

Mr. Caborn

The Home Office announced in February of last year that Standard and Enhanced Disclosures will be issued free of charge to volunteers. The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations 2002 define a volunteer as a person engaged in an activity which involves spending time, unpaid (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses), doing something which aims to benefit some third party other than or in addition to a close relative. Those persons in the categories mentioned who met the criteria for these levels

of disclosure which are set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and section 115 of the Police Act 1997 and whose remuneration amounted only to travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses would, of course, be entitled to a free disclosure.