Written question asked by Jenny Willott (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 18 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 June 2008. It was answered by Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 July 2008 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Departmental Vetting

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many (a) successful applicants and (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: My Department was formed as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007 from its predecessor the Department for Education and Skills.All individuals recruited to either Department over the last ten years are subject to a basic criminal records check. As part of the application process individuals complete a self-declaration of their criminal records.In line with the HMG baseline personnel security standard the Department undertakes a full independent check of unspent criminal records for all successful applicants, who are not in a regulated post.The numbers, by year, of applicants who have been checked is not held centrally and is only available at disproportionate cost.In addition to the baseline security checks, the Department has completed Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks for employees, since 2002 when they became a requirement. All individuals recruited to a regulated post, or to a post where they have access to personal or sensitive data about children or vulnerable adults, have been subject to, or are currently undergoing, targeted enhanced CRB check, as a matter of course.Since 2002, the Department has completed approx 650 enhanced CRB checks for its employees. These checks were undertaken for existing staff who moved around within the Department to posts which required CRB checks and also for new appointees to the Department who were recruited into posts which required CRB checks.

Secondary information