§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions his Department has had with the chief constables of Scottish police forces concerning the provision of a database allowing for the collation and use of DNA samples taken under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995; [5782]
(2) if he will make available funding for a pilot project to provide a DNA database in Scotland on a comparable basis with the Forensic Science Service study commissioned by the Home Office; [5783]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the need for a database in Scotland for the collation and use of DNA samples taken in accordance with the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995. [5784]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear in his statement on 11 December, we have made funds available for the Scottish police to make full use of the new DNA technology. We have just received a report from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland; and the Scottish Office Home Department is having detailed discussions as to the best way of using the powers under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995, after they come into effect on 1 April.
We do not see any need for a pilot project: we expect that the Scottish police will be able to proceed as soon as possible to make full use of DNA technology.