Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what effect the variation of the contract for the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS) Person Update, notice of which was published on 29 September, has had on (1) the total value of that contract, (2) the forecast whole-life cost of the LEDS programme, and (3) the financial contribution required from police forces through police grant top-slicing and the Memorandum Trading Account; and whether they now expect the cost of the LEDS programme will exceed the £1.1 billion estimated by the National Audit Office in 2021.

It currently costs £22.40m per annum to continue running the Police National Computer (PNC) (FY26/27 figures). PNC dual-running costs will continue until LEDS is fully switched over. PNC dual-running costs must continue until police forces are only using LEDS. Policing will determine time scales based on operational priorities. The final cost estimates for 26/27 will be determined following Home Office and policing governance.

The original value of the direct award contract for LEDS Person Update was £31. 25m. The total value has increased to £42.25m. The LEDS programme is currently in the process of getting an updated business case signed off through the correct governance channels. We cannot share draft figures at this time. No increase in any police force contributions is currently anticipated as a result of the contract variation. The programme is in the process of signing off an updated business case through the correct governance channels. We will be able to share these figures once the process is completed.