---

HOME DEPARTMENT

Forensic Pathology Services

The Minister for Policing, Crime Reduction and Community Safety (Mr. John Denham): I commissioned an independent review into the provision of forensic pathology services and have accepted the key recommendations of that independent review. There is clearly a need to establish a unified forensic pathology service to deliver the needs of the police service, coroners and the wider criminal justice system.

The Government intend to:

enable a standard high quality service to be offered across England and Wales;


ensure availability of service by providing the framework of a career structure to retain existing practitioners and to attract new entrants to the field;


facilitate the provision of specialist regional service delivery centres;


introduce improved management and budgetary controls for the provision of forensic pathology services.

I have instructed my officials to implement the key recommendations of the review as quickly as possible, with the intention that:

by autumn 2003, we will:

move to new accreditation and disciplinary procedures based on model competencies; and


have two centres prepared to deliver a training programme against the improved standards.

17 Mar 2003 : Column 35WS

by summer 2004, we will aim to have:


more newly trained, and operational forensic pathologists;


an agreed career structure for the future national forensic pathology service; and


developed contracts of employment.

I will continue to take a close interest in progress and will receive regular reports on progress from the Programme Delivery Board established to take this work forward. The delivery board will include representatives of both users and providers of forensic pathology services.

A copy of the review has been placed in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Cayman Islands

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Mike O'Brien): The Attorney General of the Cayman Islands, Mr. David Ballantyne, has decided to leave office on 15 March, by mutual agreement with the Cayman

17 Mar 2003 : Column 36WS

Islands Government. Mr. Ballantyne had come under criticism in the Cayman Islands following the collapse of the Eurobank money-laundering trial. He took the view that this made it impossible for him to carry out his role there effectively. I am informed that press allegations that Mr. Ballantyne had prior knowledge of or had approved the destruction of evidence which led to the collapse of the Eurobank trial are inaccurate. The evidence is that he acted to ensure the disclosure of all relevant information to the defence in order to secure a fair trial, and acted properly in bringing the trial to an end when he concluded that a fair trial could not be ensured. In doing so he carried out the independent role the Cayman Islands Constitution assigns to the Attorney General. Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that Mr. Ballantyne has throughout acted with professional integrity and in the best interests of the administration of justice in the Cayman Islands.

Press reports suggesting that Baroness Amos agreed, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, to the dismissal from office of Mr. Ballantyne are also incorrect. The independence and security of tenure of the Attorney General is constitutionally protected in the Cayman Islands.

---

---