To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children had their DNA recorded on police records (a) in England and (b) in Sussex in each of the last five years. (186768)

The following table gives numbers of subject profiles and the estimated number of individuals aged under 18, and under 16 years, sampled by police forces in England and in Sussex in each of the last five financial years. The figures show those currently under 18 or 16, not those who were that age at the time they were sampled. The fact that someone is sampled by a particular police force does not mean that the person lives in the force area. The number of profiles held on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) is not the same as the number of individuals. As it is possible for a profile to be loaded onto the NDNAD on more than one occasion, some profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. This can occur, for example, if the person provided different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because profiles are upgraded. At present, the replication rate is 13.3 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications to use DNA samples from the national DNA database in research projects have been refused to date; and if she will make a statement. (188153)

Three applications from the Forensic Science Service made between 2002 and 2005 to use DNA samples to develop a Y-STR and surnames database were refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2008, Official Report, column 2062W, on genetics: database, how many DNA samples from the national DNA database were used for the research project carried out by Cellmark Forensic Services on the further development of familial searching software; and if she will make a statement. (196116)

No DNA samples were used for the research project referred to. The term “DNA sample” refers to biological material taken from an individual, or a trace left at a crime scene.