§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many laboratories will close and how many jobs will be lost as a result of the merger of the Forensic Science Service with the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory and if he will make a statement. [27925]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 7 May 1996]: Restructuring proposals within the Forensic Science Service will result in the closure of one laboratory at Aldermaston, at the end of 1996. Possible closure of a further two laboratories is subject to further consultation. The merger with the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory has allowed the restructuring to be planned on a national basis throughout England and Wales, but the need for major restructuring to streamline the service had been identified prior to the decision for the two organisations to be merged. All present scientific caseworking staff will be offered jobs in the FSS, but there will be some reduction in support staff.
§ Mr. CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when plans to merge the Forensic Science Service with the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory will become operable; what safeguards will be put in place to ensure the impartiality of the new service; and if he will make a statement. [27927]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 7 May 1996]The Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory merged with the Forensic Science Service on 1 April 1996 to make the new FSS a national service throughout England and Wales. It remains a Home Office executive agency and the chief executive continues to have delegated authority for its operation under the terms of its framework agreement and within the policies determined by the Secretary of State. These include maintenance of the required impartiality and quality of its work, including its science. The FSS leads the way for forensic science organisations in external accreditation of its procedures to NAMAS M10 and ISO 9000 standards.
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