Forensic Science Service

EDM number 348 in 2003-04, proposed by Lynne Jones on 06/01/2004.

That this House commends the Forensic Science Service for its unmatched international reputation as a world leader in DNA research contributing to large numbers of criminal convictions; is concerned about the Government's plans to turn the service into a private sector company under a public private partnership; notes the lack of provisions in the plans to prevent the Service being split up or sold to inappropriate companies or to provide for a quality assurance regulator overseeing research work and the sharing of intelligence; believes services central to combating crime should remain in the public sector to ensure the benefits of pooled resources and a collaborative approach are maintained; notes that the service made a surplus of ú10.2 million in the last accounting year, from which ú5 million was invested in new computers and ú5 million returned to the Treasury, whilst the proposed change would create shareholders who would want a return on their investment; further notes that the National Audit Office report on the Forensic Science Service did not find anything uncommercial about the way in which the Service operated, finding that 'The Forensic Science Service has a rigorous business development process to help ensure the best use of limited resources'; and calls on the Government to lift the existing borrowing constraints which prevent this hugely successful public agency from raising the estimated ú20 to ú30 million capital investment the McFarland Report considers it needs, thereby allowing the Forensic Science Service to remain a public sector body whilst continuing to be self-financing.

This motion has been signed by a total of 123 MPs.