Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants in his Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This information is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, Civil Service applicants must declare any criminal convictions during the application process. This is reviewed during the security clearance process run by UKSV. The Ministry of Defence does not routinely employ people with unspent convictions.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many civil servants in his Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The requested information is not centrally held and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department.
HM Treasury’s approach to employ those with a criminal record is assessed at national security level and all decisions are made in line with Cabinet Office’s Security Vetting Guidance.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many civil servants in his Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
All Home Office staff considered for appointment undergo stringent pre-employment and security checks before taking up post.
We recognise the contribution that former offenders can make to our workforce, however, in deciding whether to make an appointment we would consider a range of factors, including the nature of the position and the circumstances of the offence. However, to determine those members of staff with a criminal conviction in our current workforce can only be obtained with disproportionate effort.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many civil servants in his Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Criminal record checks are made prior to appointment and we require individuals to inform the department of criminal convictions after appointment as set out in the staff handbook. The information is not collected centrally.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many civil servants in her Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
No civil servants at DCMS hold a criminal conviction.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many civil servants in his Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All employees of the Department are subject to appropriate levels of pre-employment checks and/or security clearance. As you will be aware, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 allows certain eligible convictions or cautions to become “spent” after a specified period of time.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many civil servants in her Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not hold central records of criminal convictions. When joining the department all candidates undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check which checks for unspent criminal convictions. Where a candidate does have unspent criminal convictions, these are shared with the individual vacancy holder for them to consider as this is likely to have impact on individuals’ suitability for the role.
The Department engages with the cross-government Going Forward into Employment (GFIE) schemes, including for prison leavers. The number of civil servants in the department on this scheme is less than 10. Given this number is relatively low the exact number is not provided in order to protect the identity of those individuals.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many civil servants in her Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally by the Department. The Department undertakes Baseline Personnel Security Standard pre-employment checks for all new joiners. A minimal number of roles also require National Security Vetting clearance prior to joining. In the event of a declared criminal conviction, a risk assessment is completed on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many civil servants in her Department have a criminal conviction.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not hold central records of criminal convictions. When joining the department all candidates undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check which checks for unspent criminal convictions. Where a candidate does have unspent criminal convictions, these are shared with the individual vacancy holder for them to consider as this is likely to have impact on individuals’ suitability for the role. The department is looking at how it can engage with the across government Going Forward into Employment (GFIE) schemes, including for prison leavers.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Shipley of 21 June 2023.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
We have received the hon. Member’s correspondence of 21 June 2023 and will respond shortly.