Forensic Science Service (Hansard, 19 April 2004)

§ Mr. Pound
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the savings that would result from the privatisation of the Forensic Science Service in England and Wales in(a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06 and (c) 2006–07. [165521]

§ Ms Blears
It is not intended to privatise the Forensic Science Service, but to develop it as a public private partnership (PPP).
Work is under way to prepare an outline business case that will include a financial analysis of the impact of the proposed change in status.

General Government grants ¹ (£ million) Annual percentage change in general Government grants Specific grants and capital provision² (£ million) Total (£ million) Annual percentage change in all Government grants

1997–98 146.9 — 2.2 149.1 —

1998–99 153.6 4.6 2.4 156.0 4.6

1999–2000 155.9 1.5 2.2 158.1 1.3

2000–01 162.2 4.0 6.6 168.8 6.8

2001–02 168.1 3.6 18.2 186.3 10.4

2001–02³ 164.0 — 18.2 182.2 —

2002–03 168.7 2.9 15.1 183.8 09

2003–04 177.1 4.9 15.4 192.5 47

2004–05 182.9 3.3 15.8 198.7 32

¹ General Government grants comprise Home Office Police grant, ODPM Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates.

² Includes funding from the Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Basic Command Unit funding, Street Crime Initiative, Community Support Officer funding, Special Priority Payments, the DNA Expansion Programme, capital grant, Airwave and the Premises Improvement Fund. Total for specific grants in 2004–05 are an estimate.

¹ Figures for 2001–02 are not directly comparable with 2002–03 due to the change in funding arrangements of NCS/NCIS. Adjusted figures for 2001–02 are therefore included.

324W

§ Mr. Pound
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Forensic Science Service in respect of the applications by(a) Turkey and (b) Croatia to join the European Network of Forensic Science Services. [165522]

§ Ms Blears
Turkey and Croatia are already members of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes. No discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Forensic Science Service regarding the applications by Turkey and Croatia to join the European Network of Forensic Scientists

§ Mr. Pound
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the European Network of Forensic Science services in connection with the possible privatisation of forensic science services in England and Wales. [165523]

§ Ms Blears
It is not intended to privatise the Forensic Science Service (FSS), but to develop it as a public private partnership (PPP).
Informational discussions between Home Office officials and the chair designate and secretariat of the European Network of Forensic Sciences Institutes (ENFSI) about the future status of the FSS took place in November 2003.

	General Government grants ¹ (£ million)	Annual percentage change in general Government grants	Specific grants and capital provision² (£ million)	Total (£ million)	Annual percentage change in all Government grants
1997–98	146.9	—	2.2	149.1	—
1998–99	153.6	4.6	2.4	156.0	4.6
1999–2000	155.9	1.5	2.2	158.1	1.3
2000–01	162.2	4.0	6.6	168.8	6.8
2001–02	168.1	3.6	18.2	186.3	10.4
2001–02³	164.0	—	18.2	182.2	—
2002–03	168.7	2.9	15.1	183.8	09
2003–04	177.1	4.9	15.4	192.5	47
2004–05	182.9	3.3	15.8	198.7	32
¹ General Government grants comprise Home Office Police grant, ODPM Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates.
² Includes funding from the Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Basic Command Unit funding, Street Crime Initiative, Community Support Officer funding, Special Priority Payments, the DNA Expansion Programme, capital grant, Airwave and the Premises Improvement Fund. Total for specific grants in 2004–05 are an estimate.
¹ Figures for 2001–02 are not directly comparable with 2002–03 due to the change in funding arrangements of NCS/NCIS. Adjusted figures for 2001–02 are therefore included.