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20 July 2009 : Column 923W—continued
Forensic Science Service: Chepstow
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department has provided to staff at the Chepstow Forensic Science Service laboratory on the proposed Forensic Science Service closure and redundancy programme. [286623]
Mr. Alan Campbell: On 24 June, the Forensic Science Service (FSS) shared proposals about the approach to redundancy and operational site deployment with both trade union and employee forum representatives and copies of these proposals were made available to all FSS staff.
The approach to redundancy proposal covers:
Individual consultation
Appeals process
Maximising redeployment opportunities
Trial periods
Notice periods
Support and outplacement
Redundancy package
Voluntary redundancy.
The operational site deployment proposal covers the approach, rationale and proposed site deployment based on the proposed move to national business streams. It provides details about:
the options considered;
the criteria against which the proposed option was selected (e.g. co-location of body fluid/DNA casework;
available laboratory space;
delivery of the national framework products/services and quality;
lowest risk to customer disengagement;
the operational considerations and impacts.
Forensic Science Service: Chorley
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on updating equipment at Chorley Forensic Science Service laboratory in each of the last five years. [283334]
Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 30 June 2009]: During 2004-05, £451,000 was spent on new scientific equipment for the Chorley laboratory. In 2005-06, this fell to around £233,000 and in 2006-07, dropped to just under £48,000. In 2007-08 this figure stood at £163,000. There has been no spend on equipment during 2008-09.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been received from (a) police forces in the North West, (b) coroners based in the North West and (c) the Isle of Man Government on the proposed closure of the Forensic Science Service laboratory in Chorley. [286413]
Mr. Alan Campbell:
As part of ongoing discussions with customers regarding the proposed restructure of the Forensic Science Service, senior staff from the company
recently met with the north west Association of Chief Police Officers procurement lead from Cheshire constabulary, at his request, to discuss the plans in detail.
There have been no representations from coroners or from the Isle of Man Government.
Freedomain Radio
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received reports on the activities of Freedomain Radio in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [278289]
Alan Johnson: I have not been made aware of any reports on the activities of this website.
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support the UK has undertaken to provide for the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT); where the secretariat of GICNT is based; and when the next meeting of participating parties will be. [287536]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
The UK has held two Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) events with international partners to date. A nuclear smuggling workshop in September 2007 and a knowledge proliferation seminar in October 2008. The next UK GICNT event will take place in London in early 2010, when we will host a joint workshop with the US on the issue of detecting radiological materials.
In addition to hosting workshops, we regularly send UK experts to events hosted by partners to share information on a range of issues spanning the GICNT principles. Recent examples of this are: a workshop in Garmisch in May 2009, to design a nuclear detection framework document; a workshop in Rabat in June 2009 concerning the trafficking of dangerous materials; and a workshop in Canberra in July 2009 on consequence management.
The GICNT does not have a secretariat. The US and Russia are co-chairs, with the annual plenary and workshops held by partners on a voluntary basis. The last plenary was held in June 2009 in The Hague.
The next meeting of partners will be in the Netherlands on 24-26 November 2009 at a workshop to examine international co-operation and information sharing in a nuclear-radiological security event.
Homicide
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of homicide involving killing by a sharp instrument there have been in each police force area in each year since 1997. [281673]
Mr. Alan Campbell: Available information is from the Homicide Index and relates to the number of homicides recorded by police in England and Wales between 1997-98 and 2007-08.
| Homicides currently recorded( 1) where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2) , by police force area: England and Wales | |||||||||||
| Year offence initially recorded as homicide( 3) | |||||||||||
| Police force area | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
| (1) As at 4 November 2008; figures are revised as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Includes knives as well as other sharp instruments. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. | |||||||||||
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