§ 20. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the inadequate facilities at present available, he will provide more funds and equipment for the Metropolitan Police Laboratory at Scotland Yard.
§ Mr. RentonThere is no foundation for the suggestion that the facilities at the Metropolitan Police Laboratory are inadequate.
§ Mr. LiptonIs it not a fact that we are now having a bigger crime wave than we have had for a long time, and that the Government are trying to fight the crime wave on a shoestring? Is it not true that only about£1,200 a year is devoted to materials and equipment for this Laboratory, and that some equipment has to be borrowed from private sources help it out? Can this be regarded as the best way of dealing with crime?
§ Mr. RentonWith respect to the hon. Member, he has the facts wrong. If a piece of equipment is expensive but is very rarely used, the practice is to obtain help from industrial laboratories which have it, and that system works well and saves public money. I can assure the hon. Member that the Metropolitan Police have no complaint to make about the equipment in their Laboratory, which is satisfactory for all practical purposes.