The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975

3.  None of the provisions of section 4(2) of the Act shall apply in relation to—

(a) any question asked by or on behalf of any person, in the course of the duties of his office or employment, in order to assess the suitability—

(i) of the person to whom the question relates for admission to any of the professions specified in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Order; or

(ii) of the person to whom the question relates for any office or employment specified in Part II of the said Schedule 1; or

(iii) of the person to whom the question relates or of any other person to pursue any occupation specified in Part III of the said Schedule 1 or to pursue it subject to a particular condition or restriction; or

(iv) of the person to whom the question relates or of any other person to hold a licence, certificate or permit of a kind specified in Schedule 2 to this Order or to hold it subject to a particular condition or restriction,

where the person questioned is informed at the time the question is asked that, by virtue of this Order, spent convictions are to be disclosed;

(b) any question asked by or on behalf of any person, in the course of his duties as a person employed in the service of the Crown, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority or the Post Office Corporation, in order to assess, for the purpose of safeguarding national security, the suitability of the person to whom the question relates or of any other person for any office or employment where the person questioned is informed at the time the question is asked that, by virtue of this Order, spent convictions are to be disclosed for the purpose of safeguarding national security.