§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom the forensic laboratory at Chorley provided details of the method used by Dr. Skuse in his application of the Griess test on 22 November 1974.
§ Mr. MellorI shall reply as soon as possible.
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§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom his Department has given copies of the letter from the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor), to the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills dated 11 September concerning the method used by Dr. Skuse for the Griess test on 22 November 1974.
§ Mr. MellorI sent a copy, at his request, to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay). This was on the understanding that my hon. Friend had made public the text of the letter.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tests his Department has made or has been made aware of in respect of Dr. Skuse's method for the Griess test of using a 0.1 per cent. caustic soda solution; and what results were obtained.
§ Mr. MellorA reappraisal of the Griess test by the Home Office forensic science service, included examination of the effect of using various concentrations of caustic soda, including 0.1 per cent. on the specificity of the test. We are considering the results of this reappraisal in the context of our review of the case of the Birmingham pub bombings.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to whether Granada Television was provided with details of Dr. Skuse's method for the Griess test used on 22 November 1974 whilst Dr. Skuse was still in service, in connection with the "World in Action" programme on the Birmingham pub bombing.
§ Mr. MellorI shall reply as soon as possible.