Written question asked by Joan Walley (Labour) on Thursday, 11 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 May 2006. It was answered by Parmjit Dhanda (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 May 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Child Protection

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1630W, on sex offender vetting, if he will take steps to agree with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office procedures to enable local councillors and police authorities to bar councillors on the sex offenders register from access to local authority schools and vulnerable adults; what discussions have taken place on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Under the new vetting and barring scheme, people will be barred where they present a risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults. Inclusion on the sex offenders register will be one of the reasons for barring. The police and local authorities will be required to provide relevant information to the scheme, on which the Independent Barring Board may decide to place that individual on the children’s or vulnerable adults’ barred list. Inclusion on the children’s list would prevent the individual from working closely with children including frequently working in key children’s establishments such as local authority schools or holding positions of authority in relation to children such as local councillors with responsibilities in relation to children’s services.

Secondary information