Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Thursday, 6 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 November 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Fingerprints

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which budget the cost of paying for the use of handheld fingerprinting devices by police forces will be met.

Answer: The anticipated benefits derived from the provision of the handheld fingerprinting devices beyond the current field trials mean that their costs, supporting infrastructure and back-office services should be self-financing. As such, these costs will be met from within existing police force budgets. Other associated costs, for example, procurement, training, and the promulgation of good practice, will be met by the National Policing Improvement Agency.

Secondary information