FUTURE OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE

Early day motion 1522, tabled 15 July 2004 by Colin Burgon (Labour). Signed by 103 members.

That this House notes with great concern recent press reports which indicate that the Forensic Science Service is being prepared for sale to companies such as Legal & General and HG Capital of Germany to raise some ú100 million; considers that this would be deeply injurious to the effective working and integrity of the criminal justice system by adding to the costs faced by police forces and disrupting well-developed relationships with the Forensic Science Service; believes that it will undermine public confidence in the impartiality of the service and seriously undermine the public service ethos so effectively maintained by the current highly motivated and professional workforce; notes that the unions representing the workforce have submitted alternative plans for a model of organising the service which will further improve service delivery and encourage flexibility and innovation yet retain the service in the public sector; and urges the Government seriously to consider this proposal and abandon all attempts to hand over control of the Forensic Science Service to the private sector.

Signatures by party: Labour 89, Labour/Co-operative 8, Liberal Democrat 4, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.