Clause 2
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [Lords]
12:30 pm
Parmjit Dhanda (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Children, Young People and Families), Department for Education and Skills; Gloucester, Labour)
Before I come to that point, let me make a couple of brief comments about clause 2. The clause requires the IBB to establish and maintain two barred lists: one that includes those barred from working with children, and another that includes those barred from working with vulnerable adults. The two lists relate to two distinct work forces. In some cases an individual will pose a risk to both groups, but that will not be true in every case. Where there is evidence of a risk only to a specific group, we cannot justify barring the individual from a much wider work force. Were the lists combined, they would cover upwards of 7 million jobs, which clearly raises the issue of whether a bar would be appropriate and fair in all cases.
Schedule 2 makes provision for determining whether a person should be included in the lists. The barred lists are necessary to maintain a record of those who are known to pose a risk to vulnerable groups. They replace the current schemes. POCA, List 99 and the disqualification order regime will be replaced by the children’s barred list, while POVA will be replaced by the vulnerable adults’ barred list.
Part 3 of schedule 2 provides supplementary provisions for the barring scheme, including procedures, representations and information gathering. The barred lists are an integral part of the scheme and will provide greater safeguards for children and vulnerable adults.
On the hon. Lady’s point about a controlled activity, I can confirm that an employer who is allowed to employ someone who is barred for a controlled activity will be given further information to ensure that they can put in place the necessary safeguards.