§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 746W, on Amy Gehring, if she will make a statement on the content of that letter; and what action, and when, her Department took in response. [39414]
§ Mr. TimmsThe letter received on 20 November 2000 from Surrey police contained factual information about allegations made against Miss Gehring and stated that no further police action would be taken. The letter did not express concern about the risk that Miss Gehring might present to children. After receiving the letter my officials initiated their List 99 procedures, making a criminal background check and writing to Timeplan seeking copies of all the documents relating to the case. On 8 January 2001 my officials were informed by Surrey police that Miss Gehring's conduct was the subject of a fresh police investigation. The officials then followed normal practice and suspended further inquiries until documents, witness statements and other evidence from the police investigation and trial became available.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 746W, on Amy Gehring, on how many occasions in each of the past three years a police force has written to her Department to raise issues about a working teacher; and what action was taken in each case. [39415]
§ Mr. TimmsThis information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department receives notification of misconduct from a number of sources including the police, a working teacher's employer and from press reports.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 746W, on Amy Gehring, on what date the contents of the letter were communicated to Ministers. [39416]
§ Mr. TimmsMinisters were informed of the contents of the letter from Surrey police on 24 January 2002.