§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects a national DNA database to he established; which police forces throughout the United Kingdom he would expect to have access to this facility; and when this will include Scottish forces. [5785]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 14 December 1995]: The DNA database currently operated by the Forensic Science Service became operational in April 1995, after enabling amendments to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 had come into force. All police forces in England and Wales have access to it.
Separate legislation has been enacted to allow the establishment of databases in Scotland and Northern Ireland and will come into force in the first half of next year. We intend that police forces throughout the United Kingdom will in due course have access to all the data.