Forensic Science Service

John McDonnell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the Forensic Science Service in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what staff turnover was in each such year.

Meg Hillier
[holding answer 13 December 2007]: The Forensic Science Service has supplied the information in the following table.

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|                                                                                    |Average number of staff in year|Percentage turnover (leavers/av staff x 100)|
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|2002-03                                                                             |2,729                          |15.57                                       |
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|2003-04                                                                             |2,697                          |7.26                                        |
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|2004-05                                                                             |2,642                          |7.08                                        |
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|2005-06                                                                             |2,503                          |12.66                                       |
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|2006-07                                                                             |2,431                          |25.05                                       |
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|Sources:2002-03, 2003-04, 2006-07: Annual report2004-05, 2005-06: Performance report|                               |                                            |
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