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Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [HL]

Until the noble Baroness spoke to her amendment, I was not exactly sure where she was coming from because, as she says, it seeks to add to the existing sanctions available to the Criminal Records Bureau in the event of non-compliance by an organisation with its code of practice. I now understand that she is questioning whether the existing sanctions are too draconian to ensure that the obligations placed on employers are met. I have with me the new regulations which have just come into force in respect of the registered body network and the new code of practice, which has also just come into force. The best response I can give the noble Baroness is to say that I will write to her on the specific points, because I am told that these provide a more expansive range of sanctions, which I believe would meet her concerns. However, because I was not sure of her precise point—and at the moment I regret that I am no expert on the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2006—an admission of ignorance is probably my best defence. I will write to her, but I am told by my advisers that I can meet her concerns. I look forward to being able to do so.