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Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [HL]

My Lords, I begin with the position regarding carers to which the Minister referred at the start of this debate. I am pleased that he has made such considerable advances in this matter and several others as the Bill has progressed through this House. We started considering the Bill by talking about the need for cross-party consensus, and that consensus has made a real difference. This evening’s amendments and the Minister’s explanation that we were sent in advance, together with his letter addressed to the noble Lord, Lord Harris of Haringey, mean that we will deliver a Bill that is in good shape to our honourable friends in another place. I am extremely grateful for the Minister’s response to all of our concerns regarding Clause 6 and support for carers. I have no doubt that he will have checked with care with his department and his lawyers to ensure that it is possible to use the word ““expected”” with regard to checking the barred status of people employed to work with those whom they care for. In other words, the kind of language that the Minister feels will be used in the code of practice will go a long way to meeting concerns that we have all expressed regarding such sensitive relationships in private arrangements in an informal environment. So we have made real progress, and I am grateful to the Minister for that. I turn briefly to the group of amendments. It is right and proper that the lists produced by the IBB are comprehensive. It appears that the amendments essentially tighten up the system, and the automatic barring of individuals who have received cautions for offences is certainly the correct step to take. We very much support these amendments.