Cost of Criminal Records Bureau checks reduced

The cost of a standard disclosure will go down from £31 to £26, although the cost of enhanced checks will remain at £36.

Those working with children will still have to pay £64 to register for the vetting and barring scheme being introduced from October 12.

This includes a £28 fee to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority and £36 for a Criminal Records Bureau check.

The Home Office said the reduction in cost will mean total savings to customers of £1m.

Several children's authors, including Philip Pullman and Michael Morpurgo, spoke out over plans to introduce the vetting and barring scheme, claiming the move would mean them having to pay £64 and be entered on a database if they wanted to continue visiting schools and talking about their work.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families today issued a statement claiming the checks have been misunderstood.

"Authors will not have to register with the vetting and barring scheme if they work with children once or infrequently," it said.