Charles Hendry, shadow minister for young people, says parents would be horrified to learn the Criminal Records Bureau cannot vet foreigners properly.
He has written to Sir Michael Bichard, head of the inquiry into how Ian Huntley managed to get a job as a school caretaker in Soham, asking what further steps can be taken to ensure that everyone applying to work with children in the UK is subject to the same precautions.
"Now that people have seen what has happened with Ian Huntley, parents would be horrified to discover such gaping holes exist in the vetting system," said Hendry. "If the background of someone coming into the UK to work with children cannot be checked, they should not be appointed.
"When we have seen teachers of many years' standing suspended and unable to take up new positions because of delays in CRB checks, it seems wrong that someone coming from abroad, who we know nothing about, can work without any checks whatsoever. With the accession of 10 new countries to the EU, this becomes an even more urgent issue."
The Wealden MP contacted Sir Michael after Children's Minister Margaret Hodge admitted the bureau was unable to obtain details of a person's criminal record from overseas.
"A limited number of overseas convictions are recorded on the police national computer but the data is not comprehensive," she said in response to a question raised by Hendry in the House of Commons.
Hodge added that the bureau had an overseas information service, which covers 17 countries, to advise employers on the availability of criminal record information from overseas and it was in discussions with the 10 EU accession countries about extending this arrangement. When information is not available, she advised employers to take extra care with references.
