HC Deb 02 May 1989 vol 152 cc30-1W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if his Department makes a local pay addition to secretarial, clerical and typing staff at the central research and support establishment and at the regional forensic science laboratory, both at Aldermaston; and if he has any proposals for the payment of an addition to forensic scientists at the laboratories;

(2) if he has any proposals for the payment of a special pay addition to forensic scientists working at the central research laboratory and at the regional forensic science laboratory, both at Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he will introduce for forensic scientists working at the central research laboratory and at the regional forensic science laboratory, both at Aldermaston, a new pay structure including a special pay addition, and similar to that affecting scientists employed by the Ministry of Defence working on the same Aldermaston site in the atomic weapons research establishment.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

From 1 April 1989 clerical, secretarial and typing staff at the central research and support establishment and forensic science laboratory a t Aldermaston, who have one year's service, receive a local pay addition of £600 pa.

The case for special pay increase to scientific staff up to senior scientific officer level at these establishments on the grounds of recruitment and retention difficulties is under consideration.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the morale of scientists within the Home Office forensic science service, in the light of the comments made in the recent report of the Select Committee on Home Affairs, (HC 686).

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We will be responding to the Home Affairs Select Committee report on the forensic science service shortly.

The forensic science service is now emerging from a period of uncertainty. The Select Committee recognised that a good deal has been done recently to build up morale and tackle the other problems which the service faces. We are keeping up the pace of this work.