Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department operates a ban the box employment policy in respect of ex-offender job applicants with unspent convictions; and how many employees of his Department have unspent convictions.

The Department for International Trade is operating its recruitment processes in line with the Ban the Box principles. We are committed to improving diversity of opportunity and creating an inclusive working environment that attracts the best talent and makes the most of potential skills and productivity of ex-offenders in the community.

All offers of employment are subject to clearance through the appropriate vetting processes. Following successful clearance and the individual taking up their offer of employment with the department, any history of criminal convictions would not be held on a central personnel record.