§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the delay in producing the report of the working party on forensic pathology.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand that the work has presented many difficulties, including the reconciliation of various conflicts of interest. As a result, it has taken time to draw up conclusions on which the various members of the working party could agree.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in theOfficial Report the dates when the current director of the forensic service science laboratory at Chepstow had meetings with the chief constables of each of the police forces which the laboratory serves.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggIn the last two years, the director of the Chepstow forensic science laboratory has met chief constables of the forces which the laboratory serves on the following dates:
- 1987
- 23 March
- 7 September
- 23 September
- 7 December
- 17 December
- 1988
- 13 January
- 3 March
- 14 March
- 24 March
- 3 May
- 6 July
- 12 September
- 25 November
- 12 December
- 15 December
Most of these meetings were either regional gatherings attended by chief constables from a number of forces, or meetings of the laboratory's user board, which is chaired by a chief constable.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now received the working party report on forensic pathology.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe working party is to meet in April to consider the final draft of the report. It is hoped that the working party will submit its report to my right hon. Friend shortly thereafter.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times since 1984 has the Home Office working party on forensic pathology met.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggSince December 1984, the working party has met formally on six occasions.