§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purposes his Department's Press Office Briefing and Research Database is to be used; what information will be stored on it; and if he will place its technical specifications in the Library. [113798]
§ Mr. StrawThe purpose of the Briefing and Reference Database (BARD) is to improve my Department's capability to handle media inquiries and to enable more effective briefing of Ministers on current and developing Home Office policies. BARD is a central database that stores news releases, speeches, Parliamentary business and basic facts and figures about Home Office business. BARD is currently being piloted and its technical specification will be placed in the Library once the pilot is complete.