§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe Ministry of Defence currently has no data information systems physically linked to any external systems. Discussions are now taking place between the Department's security branches and the national identification bureau to allow direct access to the police national computer, PNC. Such access would not permit the exchange of information or the interrogation of an individual's criminal record and would, as now with manual inquiries, be governed by the PNC procedures which comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984.