§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how far plans for the installation of computer outlets in police vehicles are advanced in the Metropolitan Police area, Merseyside, Thames Valley, West Midlands and other police areas of the United Kingdom;
(2) how much has been spent in feasibility studies in the programme of installing computer outlets in police vehicles; and what has been the capital expenditure and the annual cost of such studies.
§ Dr. SummerskillPolice vehicles are not equipped with computer outlets having access to data bases, and there are no plans for such installations. Computers are used in some police communications systems to which police vehicles are linked. The Home Office is conducting a study, with the co-operation of police forces, to see to what extent processes in such systems can be automated. This study began in 1971 and the expenditure to date is £800,000
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, during the last five years, how many crimes in the Metropolitan area and the United Kingdom as a whole have been solved wholly or partly due to the existence of computers.
§ Dr. SummerskillIt is impossible to say; records are not kept on this basis.