Written question asked by Andy Reed (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 October 2009. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 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 progress has been made in his Department's Review of the definitions of frequency and intensity in the vetting and barring process; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Secretary of State has asked Sir Roger Singleton, chairman of the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the Government's Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children, to check whether the Government have drawn the line in the right place in relation to the degree of contact with children which should trigger the requirement to register with the new scheme. The Secretary of State's letter of 14 September 2009 to Barry Sheerman (copies of which are in the Libraries of both Houses) sets out the context of the issue Sir Roger has been asked to consider. Sir Roger has been asked to report to Ministers by early December.

Secondary information