HC Deb 15 October 2003 vol 411 cc259-60W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces in England and Wales contract work to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Chorley; how many staff are employed at the Chorley site; and what representations he has received in response to his statement of 17 July 2003,Official Report, column 61WS, from (a) the workforces, (b) trade unions, (c) police forces, (d) hon. Members and (e) other bodies. [131497]

Ms Blears

Chorley Forensic Science Laboratory provides services to the police forces in its North West region, which are Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and North Wales. The Laboratory also provides services to police forces in Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire.

These services are based on Service Level Agreements and not legally binding contracts.

At 31 August, there were 228 individuals employed at Chorley Forensic Laboratory.

To date, representations in response to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's statement of 17 July about the future of the Forensic Science Service have been received from (a) two FSS employees, (b) two trade unions, Prospect and PCS, and from Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, (c) no police forces or police authorities, (d) 89 hon. Members and (e) no other bodies.