HC Deb 24 October 2002 vol 391 cc459-60W
Mr. Robathan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the impact of the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau on the process of appointing teachers. [75288]

Mr. Miliband

At present the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau is not impacting on the process of appointing teachers. My Department has advised employers in the education service that teachers, and other staff and volunteers, can be appointed provisionally in advance of the receipt of a Disclosure from the CRB. They may be deployed to work with children at the discretion of the Head teacher, subject to a satisfactory check of my Department's List 99 which contains details of people who are barred from teaching and other work involving regular contact with children, taking up references, and other usual recruitment checks. We have also advised employers that where appropriate they should continue to seek a CRB Disclosure, and review the person's suitability in light of any information revealed by that when it is received. The interim arrangements to allow teachers to be appointed in advance of receiving a Disclosure were first introduced in May.