§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on shortages in the forensic science available to the police and to his Department.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIn its reply to the Home Affairs Select Committee report in May the Government accepted the difficulties facing the Home Office forensic science service in keeping pace with the demands on it. Eighteen additional staff have been recruited to the service and at least 10 more have been approved for 1990–91, bringing the total staff in post up to 598. Work is also in hand to improve the way in which the service's available resources are used to meet the needs of its customers.