DNA Tests (Hansard, 3 December 1987)

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have taken part in DNA blood testing; and in how many cases the claimed relationships have been proved by this method.
690W

§ Mr. Renton
The commissioning of reports on relationships based on DNA tests is a private arrangement between the individuals concerned and the testers. Outcomes are not recorded centrally.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a research programme designed to increase the number of randomly selected persons tested for DNA profiles, in order to facilitate the evaluation by courts of DNA profiling tests; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We see no need to do so. Work on the evaluation of DNA profiles is already well established both in the forensic science service and elsewhere; I am satisfied that this will enable a full evaluation to be made of the technology.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current budget for staff training, and the performance and evaluations of DNA profiling tests carried out in his Department's and Metropolitan Police forensic science laboratories; if he has any proposals to increase it; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The provisions in the current financial year for the development of DNA profiling and the related staff training costs for the forensic science service is £423,500. The corresponding figure for the Metropolitan police Laboratory is £70,500.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to establish facilities capable of carrying out DNA profiling tests at his Department's forensic science laboratories other than the central research establishment at Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
It is expected that a DNA profiling service will be available in each of the Home Office forensic science laboratories, and also the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory, within the next 12 months.