§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total number of outstations of the laboratory of the Government Chemist, their position, catchment areas and dates of opening.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe laboratory of the Government Chemist has four outstations, at Teddington, Gosport, Liver-30W pool and Glasgow. The catchment area of each depends upon its role. The work at Teddington is on hydrocarbon oil, oil pollution and inorganic chemicals and its catchment area is the whole United Kingdom. Gosport serves the Ministry of Defence and its catchment area is again the whole United Kingdom. Liverpool and Glasgow outstations primarily serve Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, and their catchment areas are respectively the Midlands, north-western and southern England; and Scotland, Northern Ireland and north-eastern England.
The Teddington outstation was opened in 1976. The Gosport laboratory became an LGC outstation in 1966 on transfer from the Ministry of Defence. Those at Liverpool and Glasgow became LGC outstations in 1911 on transfer from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will give a breakdown of the annual operating costs of the Glasgow outstation of the laboratory of the Government Chemist;
(2) if he will give a breakdown of the annual operating costs of the headquarters of the laboratory of the Government Chemist and the outstations in England and Wales.
§ Mr. David MitchellSeparate operating costs for the headquarters and outstations of the laboratory of the Government Chemist are not readily available, but the full economic cost of the laboratory as a whole for 1979–80 was approximately £6 million.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the cost of establishing and equipping the Glasgow outstation of the laboratory of the Government Chemist in its present building.
§ Mr. David Mitchell£120,000, at 1977 prices. The building was occupied in January 1978.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total number of staff employed by the laboratory of the Government Chemist broken down by headquarters and outstation.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe total numbers of staff employed by the laboratory of the 31W Government Chemist at 1 April 1980 were as follows:
Headquarters (London) 357 Teddington 19 Gosport 12 Liverpool 10 Glasgow 5½ Total 403½