Written question asked by Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 January 2010.

National DNA Database

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 2 December (WA 50), whether any of the designated personnel with direct access to information on the national DNA database or their predecessors have been subject to (a) investigation, or (b) disciplinary action, as a result of their conduct in post.

Answer: The national DNA database (NDNAD) was established in 1995. From 1995 to 2005 it operated under the custodianship of the Forensic Science Service (FSS), then an executive agency of the Home Office. Following the vesting of the FSS as a government-owned company in December 2005, the custodianship of the NDNAD passed to the Home Office, although the FSS continued to operate and maintain the database under a contract with the Home Office. Custodianship of the NDNAD passed from the Home Office to the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) when it was created in April 2007. All NDNAD operations and maintenance functions previously carried out under contract by the FSS have now been transferred to NPIA. All NPIA employees who have had direct access to the NDNAD since NPIA took over custodianship of the database have received the appropriate security clearance. Since the NPIA took over custodianship of the NDNAD, two individuals with direct access to the database have been subject to investigation. In both cases the result of the investigation was that no disciplinary action was necessary.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 794; 716 c63-4WA
Session: 2009-10
Related items: National DNA Database
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Disciplinary proceedings Access Databases DNA
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk