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7th February 2001

The Scout Association welcomes the Government announcement that checks from the new Criminal Records Bureau will be free for voluntary youth organisations. The checks will identify if adults volunteering to work closely with young people have a criminal conviction.

Chief Executive Derek Twine said, "Not only has a potentially damaging financial burden been lifted from the voluntary sector but this will also encourage organisations who do not currently check applicants to do so. This is a significant step forward for any organisation committed to keeping the young people in its care safe from harm."

The Chief Executive also expressed his thanks to Members of the Scout Movement throughout the UK who had joined with other concerned local voluntary organisations to brief their MPs about the damaging impact the charges would have had. This would have been particularly the case in areas of social deprivation and economic hardship.

"The Scouts already have a vigorous checking and vetting system for adults seeking to work with young people, and over 70,000 checks annually are made by The Scout Association. Free access to criminal records will significantly add to the process. It is particularly welcomed that this can now happen without incurring a charge which had been calculated at over £700,000."

For further information contact: Public Relations Department (public.relations@scout.org.uk)