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10 May 2006 : Column 317W—continued
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Criminal Records Bureau
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people are the subject of multiple Criminal Records Bureau clearance applications; [69440]
(2) how many people have renewed their Criminal Records Bureau clearance following expiry. [69442]
Joan Ryan: The information sought by the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham is not available. Criminal Records Bureau's standard and enhanced disclosures do not carry any specific period of validity. They are designed to be used by an employer or licensing authority at the point of recruitment for a specific position. With certain exceptions, CRB checks are not mandatory and the decision to undertake them for eligible positions rests with the employer or licensing authority, as does the decision to periodically renew checks on staff, bearing in mind any legal and contractual obligations.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the Criminal Records Bureau registration system following the Bichard Inquiry recommendations. [69443]
Joan Ryan: In 2004 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) undertook an exercise to evaluate the compliance of Registered Bodies with the Bureau's Code of Practice. This identified risks to the Disclosure service posed by an increasing and remote Registered Body network. Although the CRB and the Bichard Inquiry recognise the vital role of Registered Bodies in the Disclosure service, both share concern over the high numbers and proficiency of the existing Registered Body network.
The CRB will consequently reduce the number of Registered Bodies to work with those that remain to make the network more professional and more experienced in the Disclosure process. This will allow the CRB to ensure that the network of users is fully proficient in the security and policies of the CRB. A minimum threshold of 100 applications per year, per Registered Body has been set. The CRB will provide advice, guidance and support to organisations that do not meet the volume criteria about how they can access the Disclosure service in the future before their registration is cancelled.
The CRB has developed an alternative distribution network, through the Umbrella Body (UB) network to ensure cancelled organisations maintain full access to the Disclosure service. The CRB has been working closely with the existing UB network to ensure that they are able to provide an effective, robust and efficient service and have the capacity to absorb the increased volume of applications from new and cancelled organisations.
The CRB have developed a ‘controlled roll out programme' to ensure that UB's can manage any increased volume with ease. The CRB have also been encouraging those organisations that remain part of the Registered Body network to become UBs. The UBs are able to offer a great deal of experience in handling and processing CRB checks that can also pay dividends in ensuring that the check is completed as quickly as possible. In addition, improved UB web pages have been developed and implemented on the CRB website, which provides an enhanced search facility to enable eligible organisations to find a suitable Umbrella Body.
Dental Care (Prisoners)
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on dentistry treatment provided for inmates of prisons in
the UK in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by prison establishment; and if he will make a statement. [67501]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 3 May 2006]: In England, resources previously held by the Home Office for the dental care of prisoners have been devolved to those primary care trusts (PCTs) that host a publicly managed prison. This forms part of their general allocation to commission appropriate healthcare services for prisoners. These resources are not ring fenced, and PCTs as part of their commissioning role are able to move resources from one healthcare service to another to meet their specific local needs. It is therefore not possible for us to identify centrally how much is spent on dentistry in prisons.
The dental services provided to prisoners are an integral part of primary dental services under the new contractual arrangements for national health service dentistry. PCTs are required to provide all dental services required to meet the reasonable needs of their resident population, including prisoners. In Wales, these resources have been devolved to local health boards. Arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office respectively.
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when sections 17 to 21 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 will be brought into force. [67118]
Mr. Sutcliffe: It is intended that these provisions should be implemented by the end of this year.
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