What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Criminal Records Bureau. [156021]

The establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau is being closely managed and monitored and the bureau will operate to high service standards, which will be published. We expect it to begin issuing the higher levels of disclosure documents in the autumn, subject to its systems and processes having been proved under test and pilot conditions and having been shown to be capable of delivering the required level of service to its customers.

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. May I also pass on the thanks of the voluntary groups and organisations, because he listened to them and waived the charges? However, what plans is he putting in place to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the information going into the system, so that people have greater confidence in the working of that system?

I appreciate my hon. Friend's initial remark. He is right to focus on the accuracy of the data, as Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary did in its report which appeared on the record in July 2000. We entirely share those concerns, as do the Association of Chief Police Officers, the inspectorate and the Information Commissioner, formerly the Data Protection Commissioner. We therefore welcome the work of ACPO in producing a compliance strategy for forces to implement. All forces have been required to submit action plans to the inspectorate, since when the plans have undergone analysis by the inspectorate. Home Office officials and representatives of ACPO and the inspectorate have met the Information Commissioner to map out a plan of further action, which we hope will lead to a very significant improvement.

My hon. Friend has rightly raised a key question, as did the Select Committee on Home Affairs in its report. We are giving the issue the highest priority in the implementation of the Criminal Records Bureau.

What assessment has the Minister made of the effectiveness of the Prime Minister's crime tsar, Lord Birt, and will we have access to his record of achievement?

As far as I am aware, Lord Birt does not feature in the Criminal Records Bureau which we are discussing now. I have nothing further to add on his report.