Blunkett sends in troubleshooters to sort out delays in clearing teaching staff

Troubleshooters are to be sent into the Criminal Records Bureau to help with a backlog of checks on teachers.

The team, led by Patrick Carter, a businessman and a friend of Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, has been asked to put the troubled bureau "on the road to recovery" after a chaotic start to the school year. John Holden, a former chief executive of Companies House, and Ron Skelly, a Whitehall computer expert, are also on the team asked "to take a fundamental look at the strategy and operations" of the bureau.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said the team would not be conducting an inquest into the debacle that has disrupted schools across England and Wales. Instead, he said, it would work to ensure the bureau's future success. "I am interested in finding solutions, not scapegoats," he said.

The announcement came as the dispute over who was to blame for the delays continued. Thousands of children have missed lessons because the vetting of their teachers was incomplete. The Government decided on Wednesday to let staff back into the classroom if schools had no objections.

The bureau was launched in spring to conduct background checks on adults wanting to work with children. It was supposed to assess staff in three weeks, but delays occurred almost as soon as it opened.

The £400m contract to run the bureau was won by Capita, the company that has also been awarded the £280m contract to run the congestion charging scheme proposed by the London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, as well as the £670m deal to manage TV licensing for the BBC.

Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education, has described herself as a "very dissatisfied customer" of Capita. She said on Thursday that she and Mr Blunkett were "cross about this". Mr Blunkett said yesterday: "I remain concerned by the ongoing problems that have beset the [bureau]. We cannot be in a position where we are provided with reassurance, but not results."

While Capita has refused to blame the Government, it says that responsibility must be shared by civil servants working at the bureau. Rod Aldridge, the founder and executive chairman, said that he had not been consulted before the decision to make applications from teaching staff a priority was announced on 22 August.

The team of troubleshooters will report to Mr Blunkett and Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Criminal Justice minister, in 10 days, when they will inform the two of "any immediate action that may be necessary".