§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of 21 July (FL/98 333/1039/3 PO 10689/98) to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what progress has been made in the joint research programme between the Forensic Science Service and the police on the development of the national DNA data-base. [65398]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 20 January 1999]: The development of the National DNA database is currently being reviewed by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Forensic Science Service (FSS) on the basis of its performance to date, the elimination of the analysis backlog in the spring, and the emerging results from joint projects between the FSS and individual police forces. I will write to my hon. Friend when the results are available.
On wider issues of the usefulness of DNA analysis which was also covered by the letter of 18 June 1998, the joint research programme has assessed the value of an alternative and more sensitive method of DNA analysis known as Mitochondrial DNA. This can be used to analyse human material such as hair shafts, faeces and fingernails, which cannot be analysed using conventional DNA methods. This has proved valuable in casework. Other research to identify and use commonplace characteristics is on-going.