To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether information about individuals, other than their previous convictions, held on local police databases is accessible by the Defence Vetting Agency when undertaking clearance checks for his Department. (116655)

[holding answer 23 January 2007]: For national security clearances the Defence Vetting Agency in common with other vetting authorities in Government has routine access to data on the Police National Computer and carries out other checks, including checks with the Security Service, in accordance with the Prime Minister's Statement on vetting on 15 December 1994, Official Report, column 764 -766W. This does not include direct access to local police databases. Separately, the Defence Vetting Agency is the designated Defence authority for carrying out checks with the Criminal Records Bureau in order to meet statutory obligations in respect of staff who work with children and vulnerable adults.