Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 116:"Page 16, line 1, at end insert—" ““(d) issue conditions to be complied with; (e) issue a fine to the person”” The noble Baroness said: The Bill provides a sanction against people who use the system incorrectly, which is to suspend their ability to check. I believe that that might be unhelpful and counterproductive, so I have tabled two alternatives to that rather cataclysmic sanction. If someone is using the checks incorrectly, it is possible to refuse to issue a certificate to check or to suspend or cancel the registration of that person or organisation. I am concerned that organisations will not be completely clear about their duties under the new scheme, especially at the outset. As a result, particularly in light of the criminal offences contained in the Bill, many will tend to err on the side of caution and check more people in their organisations than is strictly necessary. I do not believe it is helpful for that to result in an automatic suspension of their ability to undertake CRB checks. I should like to see alternative sanctions made available, depending on the reason for the inappropriate use of CRB checks. If the only sanction is the removal of registration and the ability to check, that could affect an employer’s capacity to protect children by checking other people. Can the Minister tell us whether any thought has been given to mitigating in some way this rather severe sanction for what may be an inadvertent misuse of the system by employers? I beg to move.