Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many councils in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland require elected members to undergo a DBS check, or equivalent, before or during their term in office.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government holds no data on the number of councillors in England who have received a DBS check. It is a matter for the devolved administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland if they choose to collect and hold such data.

There is currently no legal requirement on councillors to undergo a DBS check either to stand for office or after they are elected. The law specifies that a council is entitled but not required to undertake checks for Councillors who discharge Education and Social Service functions.