HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc537-8W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate how many(a) children and (b) vulnerable adults that will be cared for by adults who had not received a Criminal Records Bureau check following the announcement of 1st November. [80022]

Jacqui Smith

The announcement of 1 November made no changes to the requirements for people working with children to have an appropriate Criminal Records Bureau check. The measures being taken will help combat the delays in the checking process. New staff in adult care homes continue to need pre-employment CRB checks. CRB checks on existing staff have been postponed to 2004 but all other safeguards remain in place in respect of these workers, which include confirming previous employment history and taking up references.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects(a) nurses supplied by agencies and (b) staff supplied by domiciliary care agencies will be required to have Criminal Records Bureau checks. [80034]

Jacqui Smith

We intend to introduce the requirement for all nurses supplied by nurses agencies and all staff supplied by domiciliary care agencies to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check when we are confident that the CRB are able to cope with the demand.