EDUCATION Secretary Ruth Kelly on Thursday lunchtime expressed "regret" for the worry caused to parents as she revealed in the Commons that 88 sex offenders have not been banned from working in schools.

Amid intense pressure over the row, the Bolton West MP said ministers and Government officials had decided not to bar 56 sex offenders from working with children since 1997.

In a crucial statement to the Commons, she disclosed that a further 32 sex offenders had not been added to the Government blacklist barring them from working in schools.

It was understood that these further 32 cases were never referred to the Department for Education for inclusion on the banned list.

Ms Kelly promised to close the loopholes in the system and stop anyone cautioned or convicted of a child sex offence from being allowed to work in schools in future.

She told MPs: "I deeply regret the worry and concern that has been caused to parents over the last few days.

"I'm determined to do all I can to ease their concerns."

Ms Kelly spoke after controversy erupted over her department's decision to clear Paul Reeve to work as a PE teacher in a Norfolk school even though he was on the sex offenders register.

She gave details of a complex review of the system conducted by her officials and the police over the past 10 days.

:: Since 1997, ministers have personally decided not to bar 10 individuals on the sex offenders register from working in schools, she said; None of these are working in schools now and none are a cause for concern, Ms Kelly stressed.

:: Also since 1997, the Government has cleared another 46 people whose offences were committed before the sex offenders register was set up to work in schools; Ms Kelly said there was no evidence that 32 of these 46 individuals were now working in schools.

"In 13 cases preliminary checks have shown no reason for concern but our information is as yet not complete," she said.

"In one case and individual is working in education but has been assessed by police as of no cause for concern."

:: A separate initial review by police identified another 32 individuals in England and Wales on the sex offenders register who may need to be included on Government's List 99, which bars people from working with children.

It was understood that these 32 cases identified by police had never been referred to the Department for Education for inclusion on List 99.