To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of staff (a) training and (b) recruitment at each forensic science site in each of the next three years. (283019)

The budget allocated for training and for recruitment in the Forensic Science Service has not been divided by site, but has been planned for nationally. Technical training spend in the coming year is currently forecast at £447,000. Figures for the following two years have not yet been agreed.

Recruitment spend over the coming years is currently estimated as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department operates an in-house forensic science laboratory. (283573)

The Home Office does not operate an in-house forensic science laboratory but does have a branch—the Home Office Science and Development Branch—which is involved in the research and development of forensic techniques.