HL Deb 30 April 1987 vol 486 c1713WA
Baroness Macleod of Borve

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the DNA pilot scheme now taking place in the sub-continent is being confined to Pakistan and Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

DNA testing in immigration cases is only useful if the claim depends on a parent/child relationship which is not proved by existing procedures. The only outstanding cases at the time of the pilot scheme involved people already in the United Kingdom, or these two countries. We recognise, however, that DNA testing is potentially of value in considering applications from other countries. Decisions on the incorporation of DNA testing into our immigration control procedures will be made in the light of the outcome of the pilot scheme.