HC Deb 18 July 2002 vol 389 cc554-5W
Rachel Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Records Bureau will publish its annual report and accounts for 2001–02. [71807]

Hilary Benn

The criminal records bureau annual report and accounts for 2001–02 have been published today, and I am pleased to say that copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from(a) potential umbrella registered bodies and (b) others concerning the financial implications of operating as such a body with the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement; [30530]

(2) if he will provide funding to assist umbrella registered bodies with additional costs incurred in setting up an office and processing applications from volunteers to the Criminal Records Bureau; [30529]

(3) how many organisations have registered as umbrella registered bodies with the Criminal Records Bureau; and what the Bureau's original estimate was. [30528]

Mr. Denham

We have been determined that employers and organisations wishing to use the Criminal Records Bureau's service will have a ready means of access. To meet the needs of those employers and organisations which do not wish to register with the Bureau in their own right, we have encouraged others to consider acting on their behalf, as umbrella bodies. It would have been inappropriate to plan on the basis of a pre-determined target number of umbrella bodies. As at close of play on 2 July, some 852 organisations had been registered as umbrella bodies.

Higher-level disclosures will be issued free of charge to volunteers. A number of representations have been made by potential umbrella registered bodies and others. We are not persuaded that it would be appropriate for additional Government funding to be made available for the purpose of establishing umbrella bodies.