§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time between receipt of a communication by the Criminal Records Bureau and an answer being sent has been in(a) each week and (b) each month of the last 12 months [87945]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 19 December 2002]: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) offers three different ways to contact the bureau—by telephone, by post or by e-mail. The CRB aims to deal with all inquiries quickly and efficiently. Its target is to answer 90 per cent. of all telephone calls within 20 seconds. The call centre has consistently exceeded this service standard.
The CRB aims to reply to all e-mails that are sent to the CRB website address within 24 hours of receipt and indications are that this target is currently being met.
The CRB aims to provide a response to written correspondence within one week of receipt. At present there is no information available to confirm to what extent this target is being met, as the details are not collated centrally, but the target is not yet being fully achieved.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money is owed within the Criminal Records Bureau; and(a) by and (b) to whom it is owed. [87946]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 19 December 2002]: As at 31 October 2002 the Passport and Records Agency owed £350,902 to Capita in unpaid invoices. In addition to this £5,033,514.07 was accrued for charges incurred in the month that had yet to be invoiced by Capita.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what penalties have been incurred by Capita on the Criminal Records Bureau contract. [87947]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 19 December 2002]: There is provision under the terms of the contract between Capita and the Home Office for penalties for delay or poor performance. Capita has incurred liquidated damages, although, as is normal in such contracts the details remain commercial in confidence. The main priority is for the Criminal Records Bureau and Capita to collaborate in order to achieve further improvement in the quality of service.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which staff get priority treatment for their Criminal Record Bureau checks; and how this is assessed. [87948]
§ Hilary BennThere is no priority treatment given to any staff from any sector for their Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks. The CRB did take on extra resources in August/September 2002 to process those applications from teachers and classroom assistants. 589W The CRB does, where possible, seek to expedite individual applications from any sector, which are exceptionally delayed.