HC Deb 17 January 1978 vol 942 cc169-70W
Mr. Sims

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has held concerned the proposal to move the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to West Cumbria; whether the change of location will affect the extent to which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise use the Laboratory's services; and what proportion of samples sent to the Laboratory by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise would continue to be sent there after the move to the new location has been effected.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

Customs and Excise are represented on the Requirements Committee of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and have been consulted on the proposed move to West Cumbria. It is not expected that the move will affect the extent to which toe Department will use the services of the Government Chemist. It is not possible to give figures of the distribution of Customs and Excise samples after the move, particularly because of major changes consequent on the reform of the tobacco duty.