Genetics: Database

Jenny Willott
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research projects have been undertaken using data from the National DNA Database; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier
[holding answer 15 January 2008]: Data from the National DNA Database (NDNAD) have been provided to the following organisations for research purposes.

Forensic Science Service:

10 projects relating to assistance to forensic providers for R and D papers, not specific investigations.

one project relating to police operations, requiring anonymised NDNAD profiles.

one project relating to database improvements.

Home Office:

two Research Development and Statistics projects relating to match reporting.

one project relating to police operations on behalf of Interpol (this was reported as G8 rather than Interpol in response to an earlier Freedom of Information Act query).

one project relating to database improvements (these data are now provided as routine management information and no longer classified as research).

one project to identify new leads on undetected prolific offenders involved in at least one serious crime offence.

Greater Manchester Police:

one project relating to police operations, checking against the NDNAD for named individuals.

Merseyside Police:

one project using exhibits from solved cases.

LGC (forensic services provider):

one project relating to assistance to forensic providers for R and D papers, not specific investigations.

one project on the further development of familial searching software.

one project on the confirmation of rarely found types of DNA.

Cellmark Forensic Services:

one project on the further development of familial searching software.