HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc538-9W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is putting in place to ensure the protection of vulnerable adults following the postponement of Criminal Records Bureau checks for people who work with vulnerable adults. [80028]

Jacqui Smith

A criminal record disclosure forms one of many checks persons caring for vulnerable adults must have in order to work with this client group. Measures are already in place to ensure the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse. Persons caring for vulnerable adults continue to be subject to rigorous pre-employment checks, including confirming previous employment history and taking up references, to ensure their suitability for the position in question. All those occupations, which were subject to a criminal record check prior to the advent of the Criminal Records Bureau, will continue to be subject to such a check.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how long he expects the postponement of the implementation of the protection of vulnerable adults lists provided for in the Care Standards Act 2000 to last as set out in the announcement on 1 November; [80021]

(2) for how long the implementation of the protection of vulnerable adults lists as part of the Care Standards Act 2000 have been postponed. [79812]

Jacqui Smith

We intend to implement the protection of vulnerable adults list when we are confident that the Criminal Records Bureau are able to cope with the demand.

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