§ Lord Gray of Continasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made towards establish-ing the Forensic Science Service as an Executive Agency.
Earl FerrersI am pleased to announce that the Forensic Science Service will be established on 1st April 1991 as an executive agency of the Home Office. The FSS plays a vital role in the administration of justice, principally by providing scientific support in the investigation of crime and expert evidence to the courts.
From 1st April the FSS will recover its full costs through charging its customers direct for the services it provides. In preparation for this the FSS last year made substantial changes in its organisation and style of operation. Agency status will give the FSS the 61WA managerial and financial freedom it needs to continue improving its efficiency and effectiveness, thereby giving its customers better value for money. It will also enable the FSS to maintain its high standards of scientific work and quality. My right honourable friend has set the agency challenging performance targets, including recovery of full costs, a unit cost of £579.50 and a unit cost productivity gain of 1.75 per cent. in 1991–92.
My right honourable friend has appointed Dr. Janet Thompson, the Director General of the FSS, as its first chief executive. Details of the principles by which the FSS will operate are set out in the framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library.