§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Horne Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the operational requirement of the replacement police national computer; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe expect the Police National Computer Board to agree the operational requirement for the replacement police national computer later this year. I shall place a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that records of access to the police national computer are kept according to the nine categories mentioned in the reply of 18 November, Official Report, columns 89–90; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggAs I explained to the hon. Member in my answer of 18 November, at column 89, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed us that records of accesses to the police national computer by the Metropolitan police are kept in terms of the nine categories mentioned. As these records are kept in the form of a manual log at each terminal, they cannot be easily compiled for statistical purposes, but we are satisfied that they are adequate to identify the originator of any PNC inquiry and see no need for any change.