To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) UK citizens born in the UK, (b) UK citizens born abroad and (c) foreign nationals recruited into his Department and its agencies are subject to (i) UK and (ii) overseas criminal record checks; and if he will make a statement. (206475)

The Department and its agencies carry out verification of the UK unspent criminal record declarations for all new recruits, and, where national security vetting is required, a check of spent convictions.

The current position in respect of overseas checks was described in the answer that the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier), gave to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 4 February 2008 Official Report, column 825W.