To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration he is giving to the difficulties encountered by forensic scientists in presenting evidence in an adversarial system of justice;(2) what consideration is being given to the introduction of an inquisitorial system of presentation of evidence in relation to forensic scientists giving evidence in court.

Sir John May has indicated, in the course of his inquiry into the Guildford and Woolwich convictions, that he would propose to consider various aspects of forensic scientific evidence, including its obtaining, preparation and presentation, and the roles of expert witnesses, the Crown prosecution service and the court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he is having with Cellmark Diagnostics about the centralisation of forensic laboratories in the United Kingdom.

No discussions are taking place with Cellmark Diagnostics on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of work at the Metropolitan police laboratory on chemiluminescent probes.

I understand that the laboratory is conducting trials in the use of chemi-luminescent probes. It will be for the director of the laboratory to decide on their future use in the light of those trials.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions exist on the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory's freedom to hold membranes from DNA analysis and body tissues, in particular (a) of suspects and (b) of persons found not guilty.

There are no restrictions on holding evidence obtained from suspects in cases which have not yet come to trial. Section 64 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 requires the destruction of body tissues obtained from persons found not guilty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Europe exchange of DNA profile standards scheme.

An informal agreement has been reached between a number of European DNA laboratories on the basic elements of the DNA profiling technique so that, in principle, the results obtained in these laboratories can be compared. A collaborative exercise has confirmed that there is a high level of compatibility. Future work will build on this progress, placing particular emphasis on quality assurance procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance he gives to police forces in respect of the use of a DNA database in relation to (a) previous cases unsolved, (b) open cases, (c) unidentified remains and (d) missing persons;(2) whether the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory sees any difficulty in extending its computer-based DNA database for national usage; and whether there are any plans for doing so.

The forensic science service is discussing with the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory the scientific and technical aspects of exchanging DNA data. We are also assessing the practical, legal and ethical questions raised by proposals for a national DNA database. Guidance has not yet been issued to the police, pending resolution of these issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy in respect of the future development of forensic science work among police forces in relation to the degree of fragmentation of such work between different police forces.

Work is well advanced to transform the forensic science service into an executive agency so that it can serve all provincial police forces in England and Wales more efficiently and effectively. The Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory will continue to serve the Metropolitan police and the City of London police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with laboratory managers outside the Home Office forensic science services about the future of the forensic science service.

Consultation on such issues takes place at a liaison group of directors of public sector forensic science laboratories in the United Kingdom. Meetings also take place at the working level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the retention of DNA records of those found not guilty.

There is at present no statutory requirement for records of samples taken from a person in connection with the investigation of an offence to be destroyed when he is cleared of that offence. My right hon. Friend is considering whether there should be such a requirement in future as part of the wider debate about a national DNA database.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to the commercial arrangements made by police forces in relation to DNA testing with the laboratories at Aldermaston and Huntingdon.

These laboratories form part of the forensic science service. Discussions are in hand with police forces on the detailed arrangements for the introduction of direct charging for DNA tests and other work. Police forces may obtain DNA tests elsewhere if they wish.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make arrangements for defence counsel (a) for forensic work relating to London to be undertaken by laboratories outside London and (b) for the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory to make its services available to the defence in cases not relating to London;(2) what is his policy in making the services of the Metropolitan police laboratory

As part of its preparation for agency status, the forensic science service is reviewing its policy on defence work. I understand that the Metropolitan police is also conducting a review of the future of its forensic laboratory and the work which it undertakes. No decisions have yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 November, Official Report, column 245, on the numbers of forensic scientists available for police work; whether the answer includes forensic scientists outside the Home Office forensic science service; (a) in Government service, (b) in local authority service and (c) in the private sector.

The figure of 527 provided in the answer of 23 November 1990 was in respect of the Home Office forensic science service. In addition, the Metropolitan police laboratory has 231 scientific and technical staff in post who, directly or indirectly, provide scientific support to the police. No information is held centrally on the numbers of scientists employed by local authorities or in the private sector who could provide a similar service.