Written question asked by David Hinchliffe (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 July 1996. It was answered by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 July 1996 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: How many criminal records have been transferred from the manual collection onto computer; what is the estimated cost of the transfer. - Including figures.

Answer: Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal records have been transferred from the manual collection onto computer; what is the estimated cost of the transfer; and if he will make a statement.[37152] Mr. Maclean: About 286,000 records have been entered on to the Phoenix database on the police national computer. Other records which have been keyed await final processing or quality assurance. The cost of the main keying contract is £8.6 million, excluding value added tax, which is reclaimable. This is in addition to the cost of work undertaken by the national identification service staff and the police service.

Secondary information