Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 January 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Monday, 27 February 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Protection of Children/Adults

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals referred to her Department for inclusion on the (a) Protection of Children Act 1978 list and (b) Protection of Vulnerable Adults list have not been placed on these lists in each year since the respective lists became operational; and how many of these individuals not included but referred have been convicted of, or cautioned for, a crime listed under Schedule 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Answer: [holding answer 30 January 2006]: In the period 26 July 2004, when the protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) list was introduced, to 31 December 2005 3,448 individuals have been referred to the POVA list. This includes 326 individuals cross-referred from the protection of children act list. In the same period, 1,474 cases have been closed because they did not meet the criteria for the scheme as set out in the Care Standards Act 2000.Employers who are required by the Care Standards Act 2000 to make referrals to the POVA list are also required to check against the POVA list before a person takes up employment. Such employers are also required to undertake a Criminal Records Bureau check of the individuals that will reveal details of all convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer and any local police force information considered relevant. The Department would not therefore expect care providers to employ a person who has committed any offences that are listed in Schedule 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.All information obtained as a result of a POVA referral, including information about convictions, is retained after cases are closed.

Secondary information