§ Sir Gerrard NealeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards establishing the forensic science service as an executive agency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI am pleased to announce that the Forensic Science Service will be established on 1 April 1991 as an executive agency of the Home Office. The FSS plays a vital role in the administration of justice principally by providing scientific support in the investigation of crime and expert evidence to the courts.
From 1 April the FSS will recover its full costs through charging its customers direct for the services it provides. In preparation for this the FSS last year made substantial changes in its organisation and style of operation. Agency status will give the FSS the managerial and financial freedom it needs to continue improving its efficiency and effectiveness thereby giving its customers better value for money. It will also enable the FSS to maintain its high standards of scientific work and quality. I have set the agency challenging performance targets including recovery of full costs, a unit cost of £579.50 and a unit cost productivity gain of 1.75 per cent. in 1991–92.
I have appointed Dr. Janet Thompson, the director general of the FSS, as its first chief executive. Details of the
468W
Applications 12received for asylum in the United Kingdom, by location3of application and nationality: 1989–90 1989 1990 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Made on Entry Made after entry Made on entry Made after entry Made on entry Made after entry Made on entry Made after entry Made on entry Made after entry Europe Czechoslovakia 5 30 * 5 — * — — — — Hungary — 5 * * — * — * — — Poland — 15 * 10 — 5 — 5 — * Romania — * — 5 — 5 — 20 * 75 Turkey 10 125 20 105 10 125 40 170 170 80 Yugoslavia 5 5 — * * * * 5 * * Others * 25 5 15 5 20 5 30 5 60 Total 25 210 30 145 20 155 45 230 180 220 principles by which the FSS will operate are set out in the framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library.