HC Deb 14 December 1994 vol 251 cc654-6W
Dr. Moonie

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the statutory powers and duties of (a) the Government Chemist and (b) the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

Mr. Ian Taylor

The Government Chemist is named as referee analyst under the following pieces of legislation:

In addition, the Government Chemist is named as authorised analyst under the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979. Under the Poisons Act 1972 there is provision for the appointment of the Government Chemist to carry out a function personal to him.

Where required the work to carry out analyses under these pieces of legislation is generally undertaken by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

The Laboratory of the Government Chemist is included as a point of reference in the following legislation:

  • Notification of New Substances Regulations 1982
  • Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986
  • Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances for Passenger Ships of Classes III to Via) Regulations 1992
  • Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 1990
  • The Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1991

Dr. Moonie

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what conditions will be placed on the sale or transfer of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to ensure its continuing independence and impartiality.

Mr. Ian Taylor

The Secretary of State will impose appropriate conditions; these are under consideration.

Dr. Moonie

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers he has to enforce the carrying out of the statutory role of (a) the Government Chemist and (b) the Laboratory of the Government Chemist; and how these powers will be affected by sale or transfer of the laboratory.

Mr. Ian Taylor

Responsibility for making and terminating the appointment of the Government Chemist, who is currently also the chief executive of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, falls to my Department. It is not intended that this will change on privatisation.

At present the Department has powers over the carrying out of the statutory role of the Government Chemist and of the staff under his direction through their terms and conditions of employment as civil servants. Upon privatisation, it is expected that the Government Chemist will continue to be appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry within the privatised laboratory and that the terms of the appointment will require that appointee to carry out the statutory functions.

Dr. Moonie

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of contracts placed with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in the financial year 1993–94 by (a) his Department, (b) other individual Government Departments and (c) individual executive agencies.

Mr. Ian Taylor

In 1993–94 the Laboratory of the Government Chemist received income from the following:

£ million
(a) Department of Trade and Industry 7.4
(b) Her majesty's Customs and Excise 1.7
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1.3
Ministry of Defence 1.1
Department of Health 0.65
Department of Environment1 0.45
Department of Transport 0.15
(c) Intervention Board 0.6
Social Security Benefits Agency 0.2
1 This includes income from organisations that were part of DoE at us the outset of the financial year but changed their status during it.

In addition, a further £0.6 million approximately was received from other central Government customers, including departments and individual executive agencies, consisting predominantly of amounts below £0.1 million.

Dr. Moonie

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the Laboratory of the Government Chemist will spend on non-contract strategic research in the financial year 1993–94.

Mr. Ian Taylor

In 1993–94 the Laboratory of the Government Chemist spent approximately £250,000 on its own strategic research relating to selected areas of analytical science to enhance its technical capabilities. A similar outturn for 1994–95 is expected.

Dr. Moonie

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements will be made for the pensions of current and former staff of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist following sale or transfer of the laboratory.

Mr. Ian Taylor

On privatisation, the new company will be required to provide broadly comparable pension arrangements. The Government Actuary will provide an independent analysis of comparability between existing pension arrangements and those proposed after privatisation. The pension arrangements of former LGC staff will not be affected.