HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc721-2W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will make a statement on the abolition of Criminal Records Bureau checks for school governors. [80038]

Mr. Miliband

In the light of the continuing problems being encountered by the Criminal Records Bureau, checks on school governors have been suspended for the foreseeable future. General advice was posted on the Department's School Governors' website on Monday 4 November. Further guidance for registered bodies will be issued shortly.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what amendment he intends to make to the School Governance (Constitution) Regulations to abolish the requirement for Criminal Records Bureau checks. [80037]

Mr. Miliband

The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003 are currently out for consultation. The suggested wording in Schedule 6 on disqualifying governors from holding, or continuing to hold, office is triggered by an individual's refusal to agree to an application being made for a criminal records certificate when a request is made. While this wording does not in itself require all governors or potential governors to automatically undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check we will consider whether this disqualification should be removed or reworded before the Regulations are laid next spring.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many school governors have(a) received and (b) not received a Criminal Records Bureau check. [80036]

Mr. Miliband

Information on the number of newly appointed and re-appointed school governors who either have received or have not received a Criminal Records Bureau check is not routinely collected by the Department.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when his Department will publish guidance to registered bodies about the postponement of Criminal Records Bureau checks as set out in the announcement made on 1 November. [80020]

Mr. Miliband

In the light of the continuing problems being encountered by the Criminal Records Bureau, checks on school governors have been suspended for the foreseeable future. General advice was posted on the Department's School Governors' website on Monday 4 November. Further guidance for registered bodies will be issued shortly.

Mr. Djanogly

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many school days were lost owing to teachers being unable to gain clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau before the first day of this school year in(a) Cambridgeshire and (b) East of England. [79564]

Mr. Miliband

We do not hold this information.