Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to vet people who volunteer for overseas placements on Government-backed schemes.

We are committed to ensuring rigorous vetting of all volunteers on DFID-funded schemes. For example, on the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme, all volunteers are subject to medical clearance, two satisfactory references and a criminal background clearance. ICS agencies are required to check the criminal background of volunteers to the maximum level possible under the laws of their country of residence and comply with the UK DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Code of Practice.