To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which (a) companies based in the United States and (b) UK subsidiaries of US companies were contracted to his Department and its agencies to provide services involving the use, storage, processing and analysis of databases of personal information held by the Government on UK citizens in each of the last five years. (183858)

On (a) my Department is not aware of any contracts held by it with companies based in the United States to provide services involving the use, storage, processing and analysis of databases of personal information held by the Government on UK citizens. On (b) this information is not collected or held centrally by my Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. The review is now due to conclude in the spring.