Microfiche Data (Hansard, 6 July 1992)

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to consult the relative trade unions and professional associations before contracting out back-record conversion of National Identification Bureau microfiche data.

§ Mr. Charles Wardle
This matter has already been discussed with the Home Office trade union side. It will be kept informed of further developments in accordance with the standing arrangements which are established for such purposes.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of individual convictions and individual records which are involved in the back-record conversion of NIB microfiche data; and whether the contract will cover all convictions regardless of the seriousness of the offence.

§ Mr. Charles Wardle
The National Identification Bureau only holds records of those who have been convicted of offences for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed. It is estimated that there are some 3 million records in the collection and that these relate to some 9 million convictions. No decision has yet been taken as to how much of this material should be back record converted.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what terms of reference have been prepared by the computer services branch at his Department for the back-record conversion of NIB microfiche data; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

§ Mr. Charles Wardle
No such terms of reference have been prepared.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many posts in his Department would be lost as a result of the contracting out of the back-record conversion of NIB microfiche.

§ Mr. Charles Wardle
None.
34W

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the consultancy on the back-record conversion of NIB microfiche data.

§ Mr. Charles Wardle
No. Much of the information in the consultants' report is commercially sensitive.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to offering the contract for the back-record conversion of NIB microfiche data to staff of his Department.

§ Mr. Charles Wardle
This is one of the options being considered.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps will be taken to ensure confidentiality and secrecy in the event of contracting out of the back-record conversion of NIB microfiche data.

§ Mr. Charles Wardle
This is one of the matters being considered.