Lib Dems Speak Out Against Criminatl Records Bureau Charge Increases

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 10th Dec 2003

Speaking out at Home Office questions this week, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for the voluntary sector, Annette Brooke, challenged the government on the new increase in Criminal Records Bureau fees announced recently.

Mrs. Brooke urged the Minister Beverley Hughes to reduce its operating costs and increase efficiency to ensure that the ever increasing costs were not passed on to the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors.

Reminding the Minister of the fact that the fees had already been increased this year, Annette Brooke said:

"Will the Minister continue to press the Criminal Records Bureau to reduce costs and operate efficiently? Will she also ensure that any such savings are reflected in future fees? A 100 per cent increase last year and 17 per cent next year is just too much for our already overstretched and overburdened community organisations."

The cost of an enhanced disclosure has increased by a staggering 175 per cent since last year, from £12 to £33, the burden of which does and will fall heavily on so many care homes and organisations working with children and vulnerable adults.