HC Deb 21 April 1988 vol 131 cc517-8W
27. Mr. Caborn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the review of the written evidence of Dr. Frank Skuse at the trial of Judith Ward, carried out by the director of the Chorley forensic science laboratory.

35. Miss Lestor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the review by the director of the Chorley forensic science laboratory of the evidence of Dr. Frank Skuse at the trial of Judith Ward.

Mr. John Patten

A review of Dr. Skuse's written evidence at the trial of Judith Ward was carried out by the then director, Chorley forensic science laboratory, in 1985, as part of a review of Dr. Skuse's evidence in some 350 cases, dating hack to 1966. The director concluded that there were no grounds for suspecting that Dr. Skuse's work in any of these cases had led to any miscarriage of justice.

41. Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what scientific tests were carried out by Dr. Frank Skuse to determine the presence of explosives on the person of Judith Ward.

Mr. John Patten

Dr. Skuse carried out the following tests to determine the presence of explosives on the person of Judith Ward:

  • The Gricss Test
  • Mass spectrometry
  • Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
  • Tests for ammonium and nitrate ions.

45. Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the review of the evidence of Dr. Frank Skuse at the trial of Judith Ward carried out by the director of the Chorley forensic science laboratory included Dr. Skuse's oral evidence.

Mr. John Patten

No. Mr. Walker, the then director of the laboratory, examined the written material which was available at the laboratory, which included Dr. Skuse's written statement. In any case, I understand that no transcript of Dr. Skuse's oral evidence is available; as none appears to have been produced.