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1685224

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the impact of the standard of forensic science available to police officers on prosecution rates.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	901313
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office has made no direct assessment of its own, but we have worked with the National Police Chief’s Council and the Forensic Science Regulator to monitor the accreditation rates of forensic science providers.</p><p>The government also put the Forensic Science Regulator on a statutory footing through the Forensic Science Regulator Act (2021) and he has the necessary powers to enforce quality standards.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 01/02/2024 12:11:23 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1665573

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of capacity in UKAS accredited forensic science police laboratories; and whether there is a backlog in cases as of 17 October 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Fleetwood
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	203035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold data on capacity at police laboratories and the deployment of resources on forensic science activities is for individual forces and Police and Crime Commissioners to determine. However, the Forensics Reform Programme Board has oversight of strategic capacity issues. Through this Board we have assessed that there are capacity shortfalls in some areas of forensics, including digital.</p><p>The Home Office has invested £4.33m in 2022/23 and £3.2m for 2023/24 to the police-led Forensic Capability Network which provides ongoing support to over 4,000 forensics professionals by coordinating a wide range of national activities. BlueLight Commercial works with the National Police Chief’s Council and the Forensics Capability Network to manages forensic science contracts and other commercial functions in England and Wales.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 25/10/2023 11:20:18 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1663362

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) membership and (b) terms of reference is for the forensic science reform programme board.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	201216
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The membership of the Forensic Reform Programme Board, in addition to officials from the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, includes:</p><p>Association of Forensic Science Providers</p><p>Association of Police and Crime Commissioners</p><p>Attorney General’s Office</p><p>Bar Council</p><p>BlueLight Commercial</p><p>Chartered Society of Forensic Scientists</p><p>Crown Prosecution Service</p><p>First Forensic Forum</p><p>Forensics Archive</p><p>Forensic Capability Network</p><p>Forensic Science Northern Ireland</p><p>Forensic Science Regulator</p><p>Judicial Office</p><p>Law society</p><p>National Crime Agency</p><p>National Police Chiefs’ Council</p><p>Police Digital Service</p><p>Scottish Police Authority Forensic Service</p><p>University of Lausanne</p><p>United Kingdom Accreditation Service</p><p>Victims' Commissioner</p><p>The Terms of Reference of the Forensic Science Programme Board are as follows:</p><p>The Board, which brings together stakeholders from across policing and the criminal justice system, steers and scrutinises reform to ensure that the forensics model that serves England and Wales is working for the whole of the CJS.</p><p>The Board oversees completion of the Forensic Reform Programme and ensures that the programme’s interventions deliver the improvements needed. These interventions are intended to strengthen the forensics model and win back the confidence of stakeholders and partners who depend on it, in their service to justice and the public.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 23/10/2023 14:25:52 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1660412

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds data on the total number of streamlined forensic reports produced since they were introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	199280
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office has not conducted any such impact assessment and does not hold this data.</p><p>The Home Office funded Forensic Capability Network (FCN) manages and oversees the Streamlined Forensic Reporting (SFR) process on behalf of policing and the criminal justice system. The FCN last published guidance on SFR in January 2023, which can be read here:</p><p><a href="https://www.fcn.police.uk/news/2023-01/streamlined-forensic-reporting-sfr-update-winter-2023" target="_blank">https://www.fcn.police.uk/news/2023-01/streamlined-forensic-reporting-sfr-update-winter-2023</a></p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 199279 question first answered 20/09/2023 11:47:27 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1659297

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the transforming forensics programme in strengthening forensic services.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	198473
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office has funded multiple programmes to strengthen forensic services. The programmes all undergo monthly assurance. The Transforming Forensics Programme, which concluded in March this year, has:</p><ul><li>Developed an end-to-end solution for the digitisation of fingerprinting, which will help forces to identify criminals more quickly</li><li>Supported the rollout of a suite of technological solutions helping forces to support victims of rape more effectively</li><li>Set up the Forensic Capability Network which provides ongoing support to over 4,000 forensics professionals by coordinating a wide range of national activities</li></ul> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 13/09/2023 09:34:10 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1605845

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data her Department holds on the number of forensic scientific investigations (a) undertaken in-house by police forces and (b) outsourced to specialist laboratories in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	170689
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold information centrally on the number of forensic scientific investigations and whether such investigations were undertaken in-house by police forces or outsourced to specialist laboratories.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 27/03/2023 16:26:01 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1600154

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to police and forensic nurses regarding the use of Alternative Light Sources to detect bruising on dark skin; and what steps they are taking to support the use of this process.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
	uin	HL5987
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2023 answer text <p>The Home Office has not issued any official guidance.</p><p>The identification and interpretation of bruising is medical opinion and well established (see for example <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F22041123%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C3e57616bd53b42f5e23008db2484b8b6%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638143924664062871%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6qefqaFmEOLwSA2qNdGfeHfFRxSsrOhs%2BbiOVkL4KzU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Assessment of bruise age on dark-skinned individuals using tristimulus colorimetry - PubMed (nih.gov)</a>) in terms of amount of force, type of impact and longevity. Darker skin makes it more difficult but not impossible to examine. Various light sources and other means can be used to reveal or enhance the information which is a branch of forensic photography.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 14/03/2023 17:55:11 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

1362441

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what forensic services (1) input, and (2) output, data are measured systematically.
	tabling member printed	Lord Fox
	uin	HL3281
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2021 answer text <p>The measurement of forensic services for operational performance purposes is undertaken by the NPCC rather than the Home Office.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 04/11/2021 16:05:51 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	4322 label Biography information for Lord Fox

1283979

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what metrics have been developed to illustrate the effectiveness of forensic science on the number of successful (a) convictions and (b) prosecutions.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
	tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
	uin	149313
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2021 answer text <p>The Home Office is leading on a project that aims to measure the impact of forensic science on the CJS. We are currently working with several police forces and academic institutions in England and Wales to test the approach through a series of small-scale studies.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 09/02/2021 12:38:41 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1283980

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are (a) accredited and practising and (b) practising and not accredited in forensic science as at 4 February 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
	tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
	uin	149314
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2021 answer text <p>Information on accredited organisations can be found on the website of the UK Accreditation Service: <a href="https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/?q=forensic" target="_blank">https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/?q=forensic</a></p><p>There is no register of forensic science organisations in the UK, which means that it is difficult to estimate how many unaccredited and practicing forensic science providers exist. However, police forces should not use providers who do not have the appropriate UKAS accreditation.</p><p>By supporting legislation to give the Forensic Science Regulator statutory powers, we will make it possible for the Regulator to investigate and take action against forensic science providers who do not meet the necessary quality standards.</p><p>In addition, we have supported the creation of the Forensics Capability Network (FCN) as part of an £28.6m investment in forensic capability. The FCN is leading improvement in quality standards and accreditation attainment through a number of workstreams.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 09/02/2021 11:10:59 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1251940

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to reduce forensic service caseloads.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	92022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>Forensic Science is a vital tool in the Criminal Justice System and the government takes the welfare of all forensic scientists very seriously.</p><p>Approximately 80% of forensic service provision is delivered by policing in-house, with the remainder delivered by external service providers under police contract. The quality of these services is overseen by the Forensic Science Regulator.</p><p>The Home Office has invested in the Forensic Capability Network (FCN), which has operated since April 2020 on behalf of all police forces in England and Wales to increase efficiency and quality; to manage demand in forensic services; and to support the National Police Chiefs Council in co-ordinating policing’s response to major incidents such as the response to Covid-19.</p><p>A national contingency plan has been enacted to manage the impact of Covid-19 and the NPCC is working closely with external service providers. The Home Office will continue to support the FCN and the NPCC in delivering these plans.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 23/11/2020 16:25:03 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1243501

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Recommendation 21 of the Third Report of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee’s report, Forensic science and the criminal justice system: a blueprint for change, published on 1 May 2020, HL Paper 333, what recent discussions she has had with forensic science stakeholders on the potential merits of establishing a Forensic Science Institute; and what the outcome of those discussions was.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	103658
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>My officials have been working closely with colleagues across Government as well as the forensic science sector to ensure that policing and the CJS benefits from advances in science and technology by developing and implementing new forensic techniques more coherently. The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice have strengthened further our working relationship with UKRI as we work with them and other strategic partners including providing funding for the police-led Forensic Capability Network to develop and set the research priorities for forensic science research and development.</p><p> </p><p>The Forensic Capability Network have been working with user communities to identify what they need from the research system, and what changes are needed as well as interrogating existing links and resources to understand the extent to which the current system is ready to meet user needs. The Forensic Capability Network is actively identifying, the connections, infrastructures, or programmes in order to develop, support and coordinate research for the justice system.</p><p> </p><p>A Science for the Justice System Advisory Group has also been established, working with a UKRI project to devise options for future mechanisms to effectively and efficiently coordinate forensic science in the UK. Initial consultation with key stakeholders has identified common areas of research need, and mapping of relevant UKRI investments has also been undertaken to support ongoing development of funding and coordination options to ensure research can better meet different forms of user need.</p><p> </p><p>Considerations of the case for a National Institute are ongoing, but we consider work in progress to represent a significant step in the right direction and will continue to monitor progress at the Criminal Justice Board (CJB) Forensics Sub-Group.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 21/10/2020 16:51:13 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1222484

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timeframe is for the establishment of a panel of experts to support the work of the Independent review of scientific methodology in forensics.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
	tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
	uin	71850
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2020 answer text <p>The Forensic Capability Network (FCN) is operated by policing on behalf of all 43 police forces in England and Wales. It is developing a network of forensic science professionals which will include the Office of the Chief Scientist. Through this the FCN will establish a panel of experts in due course to support the ongoing independent review of scientific methodology in forensics.</p><p>The FCN Prospectus identifies responsibility for the FCN to develop Capability Roads Maps, of which DNA and digital innovation have been identified as priorities and as such are in development. The Prospectus can be read here: <a href="http://prospectus.fcn.police.uk/summary.pdf" target="_blank">http://prospectus.fcn.police.uk/summary.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 71851 question first answered 14/07/2020 16:25:34 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1221567

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 5 of the 2019 Implementation plan for the joint review of forensics provision, whether the education programme for the wider CJS stakeholders as defined with the forensic science capability roadmap has been established.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
	tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
	uin	70476
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2020 answer text <p>The Forensic Capability Network (FCN) has commenced work to develop and design a Forensic Workforce Strategy. Engagement is under way across academia, policing, forensic providers and the Chartered Society of Forensic Science.</p><p> </p><p>Education and training will form an integral part of the Forensic Workforce Strategy, which will also focus on recruitment, development, retention and planning for a national police forensic workforce.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 70475 question first answered 13/07/2020 16:06:13 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1132392

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many digital forensic laboratories are accredited by UK Accreditation Services.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	265562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The number of digital forensics laboratories accredited by UKAS can be accessed through the website of the UKAS:</p><p><a href="https://www.ukas.com/browse-accredited-organisations/?org_cat=4938&amp;parent=&amp;type_id=2%20" target="_blank">https://www.ukas.com/browse-accredited-organisations/?org_cat=4938&amp;parent=&amp;type_id=2 </a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 20/06/2019 15:23:39 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

1132134

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department has taken to increase the capacity for complex toxicology testing.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	264433
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>Management of forensics capacity is an operational matter for the police.</p><p>The Home Office has supported policing in setting up a specialist team within the Forensic Capability Network to help stabilise and manage the market.</p><p>Through the Police Transformation Fund, the Home Office has also invested £9.5m in 2018/19 and is investing £17.5m in 2019/20 in the Transforming Forensics Programme (TF). The Programme is a police-led national effort to deliver high-quality specialist forensic capabilities which are sustainable to meet future challenges and demand.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 18/06/2019 14:59:06 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

999140

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he made an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the standard for accreditation for police forensics laboratories; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	186386
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that appropriate quality standards are met across the system and supports the Forensic Science Regulator’s call for police forces to achieve accreditation for a range of forensic techniques.</p><p>The National Police Chief’s Council makes regular assessments of police laboratories that have achieved accreditation and will be keeping the Department informed as this work progresses. In addition, in her latest annual report, published on 19 January 2018, the Forensic Science Regulator set out her view of the national picture for accreditation. The report can be accessed through the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forensic-science-regulator-annual-report-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forensic-science-regulator-annual-report-2017</a></p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 186387 question first answered 08/11/2018 15:40:21 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

999141

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the proportion of police laboratories that have achieved accreditation for forensics.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	186387
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that appropriate quality standards are met across the system and supports the Forensic Science Regulator’s call for police forces to achieve accreditation for a range of forensic techniques.</p><p>The National Police Chief’s Council makes regular assessments of police laboratories that have achieved accreditation and will be keeping the Department informed as this work progresses. In addition, in her latest annual report, published on 19 January 2018, the Forensic Science Regulator set out her view of the national picture for accreditation. The report can be accessed through the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forensic-science-regulator-annual-report-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forensic-science-regulator-annual-report-2017</a></p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 186386 question first answered 08/11/2018 15:40:21 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

911282

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the urgent review of 33 cases launched by the Metropolitan Police over suspected mishandling of evidence in the forensic laboratory, what information his Department holds on (a) number of boroughs affected and (b) number of cases involving on offender under 18 years old.
	tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
	tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
	uin	147897
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold information on either a) the number of boroughs affected and b) the number of cases involving an offender under 18 years.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 04/06/2018 15:40:16 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

850859

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to protect forensic evidence following the collapse of Key Forensic Services; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reopening the Forensic Science Service to ensure forensic work is not lost in the event of a contractor's closure.
	tabling member constituency	Blackburn
	tabling member printed	Kate Hollern
	uin	130081
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2018 answer text <p>I welcome the swift action taken by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ to manage the administration of Key Forensic Services (KFS), minimising the impact on the criminal justice system and protecting the evidence for live cases. With Home Office support, they reached an agreement with the Administrators to ensure that the business continues to operate so that evidence KFS holds continues to be properly and professionally managed in accordance with the standards set by the Forensic Science Regulator. There are no plans to reopen the Forensic Science Service.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 05/03/2018 19:42:53 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4363 label Biography information for Kate Hollern

846944

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether all providers of digital forensics to the police are accredited to the Forensic Services Regulator's codes of practice and conducts.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	129118
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2018 answer text <p>The Home Office does not collect this information.</p><p>In her latest annual report, published on 19 January 2018, the Forensic Science Regulator set out her view of the national picture for accreditation in digital forensics. The report can be accessed through the following link:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/674761/FSRAnnual_Report_2017_v1_01.pdf</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 129119 question first answered 27/02/2018 17:46:59 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

846945

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether all police laboratories providing digital forensics services are accredited to (a) ISO 17025 and (b) Forensic Services Regulator codes of practice and conduct.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	129119
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2018 answer text <p>The Home Office does not collect this information.</p><p>In her latest annual report, published on 19 January 2018, the Forensic Science Regulator set out her view of the national picture for accreditation in digital forensics. The report can be accessed through the following link:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/674761/FSRAnnual_Report_2017_v1_01.pdf</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 129118 question first answered 27/02/2018 17:46:59 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

838266

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department took to minimise risk in response to the National Audit Office report on The Home Office's oversight of forensic services, published in January 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Delyn
	tabling member printed	David Hanson
	uin	127163
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2018 answer text <p>This was a briefing paper for the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. The Home Office published its Forensic Science Strategy in March 2016 setting out how policing would deliver a national approach to forensic science delivery, supported by the Home Office.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 20/02/2018 17:01:25 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	533 label Biography information for David Hanson

832922

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2018
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will make an estimate of the number of cases that have collapsed before going to trial due to private forensic firms having been found not to have followed correct procedures as referred to in the 2017 Annual Report of the Forensic Science Regulator, published in January 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	125238
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2018 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of cases that have collapsed before going to trial due to the failure of private forensic firms to follow the correct procedures.</p><p>The CPS continues to work with the Home Office, police and the office of the Forensic Science Regulator to assess the impact of issues relating to Randox Testing Services, on completed and ongoing cases, to ensure that appropriate action is taken.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 08/02/2018 09:10:55 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

834731

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forensic Science
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which forensics providers provide testing services to police forces in criminal cases.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
	tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
	uin	126171
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2018 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2nd February 2018 in response to UIN 124992.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 06/02/2018 16:12:52 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh