§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 763, where the police scientific development branch is located; what is its annual budget; and if he will publish a breakdown of its staff by grade and area of expertise.
§ Mr. Charles WardleI have been asked to reply.
The police scientific development branch—PSDB—is located at two sites; Sandridge, Hertfordshire and Horsham, Sussex. PSDB's budget estimate for financial year 1993–94 is £5,533,000.
A breakdown of PSDB's staff as at 18 February 1994, by civil service grade, is as follows:
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Number Scientific and technical staff Grade 5 1.0 Grade 6 2.0 Grade 7 11.0 Senior scientific officer 15.0
Number Higher scientific officer 12.0 Scientific officer 7.0 Assistant scientific officer 2.0 Senior professional and technology officer 2.0 Higher professional and technology officer 5.0 Professional and technology officer 1.0 Administrative staff Grade 7 1.0 Higher executive officer 1.0 Executive officer 2.0 Administrative officer 6.0 Administrative assistant 2.0 Personal secretary 3.0 Typist 1.0 Industrial staff 6.5 Total 80.5 In addition, six police officers are seconded from their local forces to provide liaison, support and operational advice. They are ranked as follows:
Number Chief superintendent 1 Superintendent 3 Inspector 1 Sergeant 1 The areas of expertise of the 58 scientific and technical staff are as follows:
Number Building and construction 1 Chemistry 5 Computer science 6 Electronic engineering 10 Materials science 3 Mathematics 1 Mechanical engineering 9 Photographic science 1 Physics 21 Statistics 1