To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of maintaining the DNA database was in each year of its operation. (167015)

The National DNA Database (NDNAD) was established in 1995, when responsibility for the operational management of the NDNAD rested with the Forensic Science Service (FSS) on behalf of the Police Service. No central records of costs relating to the maintenance of the NDNAD are held prior to 2002, as cost data were incorporated in other costs incurred by the FSS.

In December 2005, the FSS was vested as a Government owned company and ownership of the NDNAD transferred from the FSS to the Home Office. On 1 April 2007 the NDNAD transferred from the Home Office to the National Policing Improvement Agency. Costs for the 2007-08 financial year are not yet available.

The costs relating to the maintenance of the NDNAD from 2002-07 are given in the following tables. The costs for 2006-07 are higher than for previous years, because of the complete separation of costs from the FSS, and because the increase in the number of forensic suppliers requires additional resources for accreditation and continuous monitoring.