I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. The hon. and learned Member for Harborough chided me earlier about the notes that are prepared for Ministers, and their ability to put on the record all that is needed and to ensure that nothing is missed. It is important that we ensure that everything that should be on the record is on the record for when people look back on the debates. However, even though I feel that I am reiterating many of the points, I reassure the hon. Member for Cheadle that this is about equalising the relationship between private and public sector providers. We are not giving any new powers to the private or public sector, but providing the flexibility requirements that we need to deal with offenders better.

The hon. Gentleman asks for assurances. Clearly, we want to ensure that all the current protection measures will be in place and that the appropriate checks will be made on the staff who go through the private sector. Clearly, they will go through a thorough selection process with the contractors prior to employment and all the employment checks that he asked to be carried out will be, including the CRB checks. It is important that the contractor can prove that the training will be provided to ensure that the person who will carry out the services is adequately trained and supported.

The position is clear. In the training centres in particular, we need to ensure that the public sector provisions are in place. That includes those covering how officers are trained, and their abilities and powers to carry out their duties competently and appropriately and to ensure that the safeguards and checks are met. I hope that those assurances give the hon. Gentleman the opportunity to support the clause.

I want to refer back to the CRB checks. The hon. and learned Member for Harborough talked about what might be on the national identity register, referring to the announcements made by the Home Secretary the other day. A great deal of information is   kept not only in the criminal justice system but across the Departments and elsewhere. The Secretary of State has written to Cabinet colleagues to see whether it is time for them to agree that we ought to consider such information, whether it is held by the DFES, the Department of Health or whoever, to ensure that nothing is missed. One of our great concerns about child protection and child safety is that nothing should be missed. We have seen far too many examples when information that could have been shared has not gone to the appropriate person. It is in that context that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made his announcement the other day.

I hope that I have satisfied the Committee. I hope that I have given the reassurances that the hon. Gentleman was seeking and that he will withdraw his amendment.