VOLUNTEER youth workers should not have to pay to have their criminal records checked, an Ilkley Parish Councillor has claimed.

Coun Andrew Walbank said although he recognised the need for tough checks for people working with children he did not believe volunteers should have to pay themselves.

Coun Walbank put his comments to Ilkley MP Ann Cryer when she attended a meeting of the parish council, on Monday.

A new government scheme, designed to clamp down on

paedophiles, will require every youth volunteer to pay the Criminal Records Protection Bureau the sum of £10.

It is hoped the checks will weed out potential offenders, who may try to ingratiate themselves with young people.

Coun Walbank said: "In Ilkley, as well as having a number of elderly people, we have a lot of voluntary groups for young people and youth groups.

"We are trying to protect these children under a child protection scheme, but it is going to expect each volunteer to pay £10 to have their records checked. This is a sum they cannot afford."

Coun Walbank said that volunteers give enough in time and fundraising to have the essential service provided by the government. Coun Walbank said: "The volunteers provide £300,000,000 of services, that they give freely.

"I would ask that the government consider whether the young people can have the protection but not, however, the need to give the CRPB the £10."

Mrs Cryer said, after the meeting: "I have some sympathy with Coun Walbank but I think the registration is vitally important for the protection of our children.

"I have been involved in the Guides in Ilkley. From memory, in the three and a half years I have been an MP it seems that they are the same people running it. So the cost is really spread out over the lifetime of work that a volunteer does.

"If there is any organisation in real difficulty they should write to me.

"I am more than happy to try and get funding or to try for a

government waver."