To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued to (a) schools and (b) other organisations on the role of the Independent Safeguarding Authority; and if she will make a statement. (210607)

A wide range of consultation and information events have been held with employers, volunteer organisers and other stakeholders to explain the role of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) and the new vetting scheme. Government guidance for schools on the role of the ISA is provided on the ‘Every Child Matters’ pages of the DCSF website, which also directs readers to further guidance on the ISA's own website.

Further meetings will be held and guidance provided, to schools and other employment sectors, well in advance of the ISA's go-live date of October 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to provide for the security of data held by the Independent Safeguarding Authority; and if she will make a statement. (210608)

The Independent Safeguarding Authority will operate from secure premises in Darlington, County Durham. A stand-alone IT system has been developed for the handling and storage of data, including the new barred lists, at Confidential level under the criteria of the Government Protective Marking scheme. Data transfers will take place across secure networks or will utilise approved encryption.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the performance of the Independent Safeguarding Authority in vetting overseas workers who work with children. (210609)

The Independent Safeguarding Authority does not go-live in respect of new applications until October 2009. At that time it will take into account all information which is available in respect of applications from overseas workers. My Department is looking into how access to such information may be improved and will consider comments in this area from Sir Ian Magee's independent review of criminality information.