§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which companies act as suppliers of DNA profiles to the National DNA Database. [160550]
§ Ms BlearsThere are five organisations which are approved suppliers of DNA profiles to The National DNA Database, they are:
Forensic Science Service;
- LGC;
- Cellmark;
- Tayside Police Forensic Science Laboratory;
- Strathclyde Police Forensic Science Laboratory.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how intellectual property rights relating to DNA sequences in samples stored by suppliers to the National DNA Database are assigned; and if he will make a statement. [160551]
345W
§ Ms BlearsThere are no intellectual property rights relating to DNA sequences in samples kept in storage by suppliers to The National DNA Database. Intellectual property rights are associated with the techniques used to process the samples when generating DNA profiles. The samples retained in storage at e the property of the individual police forces that submit them to the laboratories.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research projects have been(a) approved and (b) refused by the National DNA Database Board since 1995. [160552]
§ Ms BlearsSince 1995, five research proposals have been submitted to the National DNA Database Board for consideration. Of these two were approved, two rejected and one is pending a decision.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research projects involving(a) behavioural genetics and (b) ethnic or racial profiling have been approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995. [160553]
§ Ms BlearsNo research projects involving behavioural genetics have been approved by the National DNA Database Board (NDNAD). Two projects relating to identification of individuals on ethnic or familial basis have been approved by the NDNAD Board.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research projects using the National DNA Database(a) records and (b) samples have sought the informed consent of participants since 1995. [161154]
§ Ms BlearsNeither of the research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board using database records, or the DNA samples collected for the database, have sought the informed consent of participants.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what suppliers of profiles to the National DNA Database have undertaken research projects using(a) the database and (b) DNA samples collected for the database since 1995. [161155]
§ Ms BlearsOnly the Forensic Science Service have undertaken research projects using either the database or the DNA samples collected for it.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patent applications have been(a) made and (b) granted relating to research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995. [161156]
§ Ms BlearsTo date there have been no patent applications made relating to research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide summaries of all the research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995. [161157]
§ Ms BlearsArrangements will be made for summaries of the research projects that have been approved by the National DNA Database Board to be placed in the House of Commons Library once they have been completed and the reports signed-off.
346W
§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the merits of compiling a national DNA database including records for(a) all those convicted of an offence, (b) all those charged with an offence, (c) all those entering the UK for the purposes of employment or residence, (d) all those entering the UK for any purpose and (e) all newborn babies. [161224]
§ Ms BlearsThe National DNA database currently holds profiles of all those charged with, informed they will be reported for or convicted of a recordable offence. From 5 April this year, when new provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 come into force, the database will also hold DNA profiles from persons arrested for a recordable offence.
There are no plans at present to extend the database further.