§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 May regarding sources of information on missing persons, why accurate statistical information could be provided only at disproportionate cost from the police national computer; and if he will publish such information as is available for the last five years together with the relevant qualifications on its accuracy.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Police National Computer provides an operational service to police forces and holds information about missing persons only for the minimum period essential to that purpose. Information is not retained for statistical purposes and it is therefore not possible to provide information about the number of persons reported missing over the last five years.