§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the Parliamentary Commissioner's findings in the case of Mr. John Preece, he will order a full and independent inquiry into the Forensic Science Service; if he will take steps to make the Forensic Science Service independent of his Department; and if he will ensure that the expertise of the service is full and freely available to both prosecution and defence in court cases.
§ Mr. BrittanI have no plans to set up an inquiry into the Forensic Science Service, nor to make the service independent of my Department. The service is already independent in its scientific judgments, and there are arrangements for the examination of items put forward by the defence as well as the prosecution; no charge is made for such examinations.