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Fees threat to childminders

The cost of criminal record checks could cause a drop in the number of childminders, the National Childminding Association (NCMA) has warned. NCMA chief executive Gill Haynes gave evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, which is looking into the opening of the Criminal Records Bureau, and said many childminders could not afford to pay for the compulsory criminal record checks themselves.

NCMA chief executive Gill Haynes gave evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, which is looking into the opening of the Criminal Records Bureau, and said many childminders could not afford to pay for the compulsory criminal record checks themselves.

The committee heard that, although volunteer workers will be exempt from costs, many other people applying for certificates will be low wage earners. The average net weekly earnings of a registered childminder are put at 106 a week. Ms Haynes believes many childminders would be unable to afford even as little as 10 per criminal record check. She said it was not unusual for four members of a childminder's household to be over 16 and therefore also in need of being checked.

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