To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information databases his Department (a) maintain and (b) uses which do not contain personal information. (284390)

The Department for International Development maintains a number of computer databases for internal administration purposes, in the following business areas:

The central Human Resources (HR) systems support staff recruitment, administration, payroll and performance, and contain personal information on members of DFID staff. Payroll systems in use by overseas offices contain personal information about locally engaged staff.

Financial and Projects systems (ARIES, MIS and Coda) are used for administration of projects and accounts. These databases contain DFID suppliers and customers’ contact and bank details.

The Overseas Pensions system supports administration and payment of pensions to former colonial servants. This database contains personal, bank and payment data on former colonial servants.

The Electronic Document and Records Management System (Quest) provides a repository for all documents and correspondence. A small number of documents containing personal information are held in secure areas.

Correspondence systems enable tracking of parliamentary and public correspondence. These systems contain names and contact details of correspondents.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which databases managed by his Department and its agencies hold personal information on members of the public; on what date each such database become operational; and if he will make a statement. (284904)

The Department for International Development (DFID) manages the following databases that contain personal information on members of the public:

Financial and Projects systems (ARIES, MIS and Coda) are used for administration of projects and accounts. These databases contain DFID suppliers and customers’ contact and bank details. The MIS and Coda systems became operational in February 1998; the ARIES system that replaces them became operational in November 2007.

The Overseas Pensions system supports administration and payment of pensions to former colonial servants. This database contains personal, bank and payment data on former colonial servants, and became operational in February 1998.

Correspondence systems enable tracking of parliamentary and public correspondence. These systems contain names and contact details of correspondents and became operational in December 1999.