To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) UK citizens born in the UK, (b) UK citizens born abroad and (c) foreign nationals recruited to her Department and its agencies are subject to (i) UK and (ii) overseas criminal record checks; and if she will make a statement. (271978)

All staff recruited to the Home Office and its agencies (the UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau) undergo either pre-employment checks or national security vetting. These all include a check of UK criminal records.

Those who require security clearance for a particular post may be asked to provide a police certificate from a foreign country.