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Written question asked by Mark Hoban (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 January 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 January 2008. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Monday, 18 February 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Border and Immigration Agency: Databases

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the error rate in each of the databases operated by the Border and Immigration Agency.
Answer

Within the context of this question, 'error rate' is considered to relate to data accuracy within each database.This information is not held centrally and cannot be provided from current information available.However, there are controls in place to safeguard against certain errors and to help prevent them occurring. Where errors are identified, prompt and robust remedial action is implemented.In order to prevent data being captured which is inaccurate or incomplete (often keystroke errors), it is conventional to provide data capture forms that have as few 'free text' fields as possible to limit the possible occasions of input data error.All core systems within BIA are subject to quarterly data audits by our data bureau, a third party supplier, overseen by Home Office IT officials where appropriate corrective actions are implemented as needed. Using root cause analysis, such errors are identified, analysed and remedied.Following advice from the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), this statement is included as supporting information:"written ministerial statement of 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179 notes that the review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 98WS. This included a recommendation regarding enhanced transparency with Parliament, and the public about action to safeguard information and the results of that action, through publication of results departmental annual reports and an annual report to Parliament."

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
472 c427-8W; 180257
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Databases Border and Immigration Agency
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk