Protection For Vulnerable Groups

4th November 2010

The introduction of a new scheme to improve the protection of vulnerable groups has been postponed until February to ensure the system which supports it is as robust as it can be before it goes live.

Children's Minister, Adam Ingram, announced the postponement today following advice from the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme programme board. The scheme had been due to go live on November 30.

Announcing the delay at the Scottish Parliament's Education Committee today, Mr Ingram said: "The system of background checks for those who have access to vulnerable people, including our children, has to be as robust as possible. Our current system is very good and the new system will be even better. However, given how important this protection is, in making a change the precautionary principle must apply. Therefore, before we move to a new system, we must ensure it is completely robust and able to deliver the improvements we want.

"We all remember the problems that arose when Disclosure Scotland was established with a massive backlog of checks. I believe that appalling situation came about because quality was sacrificed to meet arbitrary timescales. We will not make the same mistake. The programme board have advised that there remains some work to do to ensure that the new IT system that supports the scheme is fully fit for purpose and that's why I've taken the decision to postpone implementation.

"These steps are prudent and sensible and will ensure that once introduced, the scheme will be robust as it can be and offer the increased protection we all want. What's more, we remain confident that we will still deliver this project well within the budget of 53 million pounds set last year - indeed we expect to come in under that.

"We remain fully committed to the scheme and I will announce the new go live date once further testing of the new system has been completed."