§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the functions of the Metropolitan Police computer which by 1985 will store criminal records and items of comment about criminals and suspected crimnials; and what controls he proposes to exercise on this computer.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:The computer enables records to be stored and retrieved more efficiently and therefore assists the prevention and detection of crime. Access to the computer is strictly controlled; and no links with other computer installations are contemplated.