To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 18 years have been added to the national DNA database in each year since 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 18 years have been added to the national DNA database in each year since 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1857W, on First Great Western Services, by whom records on the reliability and punctuality of rail services between London and Worcestershire are kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1857W, on First Great Western Services, by whom records on the reliability and punctuality of rail services between London and Worcestershire are kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who have not been charged or cautioned for an offence have DNA profiles stored in the police national database; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who have not been charged or cautioned for an offence have DNA profiles stored in the police national database; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for (a) the National Firearms Register and (b) the National Identity Card project for each year from 2002–03; and how many staff from his Department are working on each.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for (a) the National Firearms Register and (b) the National Identity Card project for each year from 2002–03; and how many staff from his Department are working on each.

The Justice and Home Affairs Council was held on 1–2 December in Brussels. I chaired the meeting along with my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor. My noble friend Baroness Ashton of Upholland also represented the presidency. I introduced the counter-terrorism...

The Justice and Home Affairs Council was held on 1–2 December in Brussels. I chaired the meeting along with my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor. My noble friend Baroness Ashton of Upholland also represented the presidency. I introduced the counter-terrorism...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Justice and Home Affairs Council was held on 1–2 December in Brussels. I chaired the meeting along with my right honourable and noble friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Justice and Home Affairs Council was held on 1–2 December in Brussels. I chaired the meeting along with my right honourable and noble friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is provision to remove from the National DNA Database details of a DNA sample of a minor who has never been charged or cautioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is provision to remove from the National DNA Database details of a DNA sample of a minor who has never been charged or cautioned.

As I have already observed on an earlier occasion, the noble Lord’s question gives me the opportunity to remind him that this Bill may well prove to be the Government’s poll tax. He ought to keep off that one. The Prime Minister may not have probed the detail—he is too busy...

As I have already observed on an earlier occasion, the noble Lord’s question gives me the opportunity to remind him that this Bill may well prove to be the Government’s poll tax. He ought to keep off that one. The Prime Minister may not have probed the detail—he is too busy...

moved Amendment No. 259A:"Before Clause 37, insert the following new clause—" ““ESTIMATE OF COSTS (1)   Section 37 shall not come into effect until— (a)   the Secretary of State has submitted to Parliament a detailed estimate of the costs of implementing the powers contained in this Act (to be known as ““the Cost Estimate””); and (b)   each...

moved Amendment No. 259A:"Before Clause 37, insert the following new clause—" ““ESTIMATE OF COSTS (1)   Section 37 shall not come into effect until— (a)   the Secretary of State has submitted to Parliament a detailed estimate of the costs of implementing the powers contained in this Act (to be known as ““the Cost Estimate””); and (b)   each...

I share the noble Baroness’s concern about costs. I shall try to be brief in my few remarks. If I may say so, with the greatest possible respect to noble and learned Law Lords, I note that in their most recent report, every Law Lord said that he agreed with the first Law Lord...

I share the noble Baroness’s concern about costs. I shall try to be brief in my few remarks. If I may say so, with the greatest possible respect to noble and learned Law Lords, I note that in their most recent report, every Law Lord said that he agreed with the first Law Lord...

Of course I hear what the noble Lord says. I have been as crystal clear as I can be in relation to these issues and I have also said that the way of avoiding such penalties is simply to comply. I have made it clear that the Secretary of State can waive all or any...

Of course I hear what the noble Lord says. I have been as crystal clear as I can be in relation to these issues and I have also said that the way of avoiding such penalties is simply to comply. I have made it clear that the Secretary of State can waive all or any...

I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 256 to 259 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.] Clause 33 agreed to. Clauses 34 to 36 agreed to.

I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 256 to 259 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.] Clause 33 agreed to. Clauses 34 to 36 agreed to.

I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this important debate on the part of the Bill relating to the commissioner’s work, which will affect the confidence that people may have in the operation of the whole scheme. It would be wrong of me to go into detail, and we...

I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this important debate on the part of the Bill relating to the commissioner’s work, which will affect the confidence that people may have in the operation of the whole scheme. It would be wrong of me to go into detail, and we...

Clause 24(3)(c) does not exclude Clause 20 from the commissioner’s remit.

Clause 24(3)(c) does not exclude Clause 20 from the commissioner’s remit.

I accept that and I am extremely grateful for it. The point I raised followed on from what the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, said on Clause 24(3)(c) and whether the word ““relates”” in that clause could be taken to refer to Clause 20. I imagine that it could not but I would be grateful for confirmation.

I accept that and I am extremely grateful for it. The point I raised followed on from what the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, said on Clause 24(3)(c) and whether the word ““relates”” in that clause could be taken to refer to Clause 20. I imagine that it could not but I would be grateful for confirmation.

I do not think that it is intended to be. I said that I would look at the first half of the noble Lord’s amendment, which says,"““the uses to which information recorded in the Register is being put””." I very much understood the way in which the noble Lord argued it. As it is...

I do not think that it is intended to be. I said that I would look at the first half of the noble Lord’s amendment, which says,"““the uses to which information recorded in the Register is being put””." I very much understood the way in which the noble Lord argued it. As it is...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Phillips, for raising this issue—although he is right in saying that much of it was dealt with in the earlier debate, in the very full response given by my noble friend Lady Scotland. I have a great deal of sympathy with the noble Lord, Lord Phillips,...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Phillips, for raising this issue—although he is right in saying that much of it was dealt with in the earlier debate, in the very full response given by my noble friend Lady Scotland. I have a great deal of sympathy with the noble Lord, Lord Phillips,...

I strongly support my noble friend’s amendment. I do not make the concession that he did, however, that the commissioner should not be the front-line recipient of complaints. If the commissioner’s office is not broad enough to take on that role, who will become the frontline recipient of complaints? Every person over...

I strongly support my noble friend’s amendment. I do not make the concession that he did, however, that the commissioner should not be the front-line recipient of complaints. If the commissioner’s office is not broad enough to take on that role, who will become the frontline recipient of complaints? Every person over...

moved Amendment No. 228:"Page 21, line 43, at end insert—" ““(   )   The Commissioner shall establish and operate a system to deal with individual complaints concerning the functioning of the Register and the use of information on it under the provisions of this Act in accordance with an order made by the Secretary...

moved Amendment No. 228:"Page 21, line 43, at end insert—" ““(   )   The Commissioner shall establish and operate a system to deal with individual complaints concerning the functioning of the Register and the use of information on it under the provisions of this Act in accordance with an order made by the Secretary...

While I hear what the noble Lord says, we do not agree. Looking at the kind of complaints and the process here, we believe it is important to ensure that the procedure is accessible to people so that they can raise their concerns and know that they will be dealt with...

While I hear what the noble Lord says, we do not agree. Looking at the kind of complaints and the process here, we believe it is important to ensure that the procedure is accessible to people so that they can raise their concerns and know that they will be dealt with...