§ 16. Mr. Bourne-Artonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science when the laboratory of the Government Chemist 194 will move from the Strand to the South Bank; and why it is not being moved out of central London.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe move is planned to take place in September this year. To move the laboratory out of central London would slow up communication through the railway system with the nation's ports and disrupt the advisory service to Government Departments, particularly the Customs and Excise Department. As much as possible of the day-to-day routine work is dispersed to stations at Bristol, Glasgow or Liverpool.
§ Mr. Bourne-ArtonDoes not my hon. Friend consider that this high official could carry out his duties far better in the clean air and open space of the North-East than on the South Bank?
§ Mr. FreethI do think that it is essential for the main body of the laboratory of the Government Chemist to be near both Customs and Excise and the ports of London. No less than 240,000 samples originate each year from Customs and Excise and about one-quarter of this number is delivered direct from the London docks by Customs van. I am not sure that, if we moved the laboratory out of central London, we would in fact either expedite analyses or cut costs.