Written question asked by Rob Wilson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 July 2007. It was answered by Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Schools: Vetting

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average amount of time taken was for a Criminal Records Bureau check to be completed on a potential member of school staff in 2006-07.

Answer: The information sought by the hon. Member is not available. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is unable to provide information on Disclosure applications based on employment sector.Data concerning the average waiting time taken to complete a Disclosure are not a performance target and are not collated by the CRB. The CRB operates to a set of published service standards (PSS) which include to issue 90 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within 10 days and 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within 28 days. During 2007 the CRB has consistently exceeded the PSS and in August 2007, the CRB issued 100 per cent. of Standard Disclosures and 96 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within PSS.

Secondary information