Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 28 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 March 2006. It was answered by Andy Burnham (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 April 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

DNA Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the compatibility of DNA databases in England and Wales with those in (a) Scotland and (b) Northern Ireland; and what procedures need to be followed for making samples held by the police in one part of the UK available to police in another part.

Answer: The profiles on the ‘local' DNA databases in Scotland and Northern Ireland are fully compatible with those on the national DNA database. Subject sample profiles taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland and crime scene profiles from Scotland and Northern Ireland are added to the national DNA database (NDNAD) as well as the local databases. Any matches resulting from a speculative search of the Scottish and Northern Ireland profiles against the NDNAD are automatically reported to the relevant police forces in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

Secondary information