Forensic Evidence: Alleged Manipulation Debate

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Department: Home Office

Forensic Evidence: Alleged Manipulation

Diana Johnson Excerpts
Monday 27th November 2017

(6 years, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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I agree that retesting is the priority and that that needs to be done as quickly as possible—that is a Government priority—but I do not think that revisiting the decision on the Forensic Science Service is a priority. As I have said, that decision was taken in 2011. We have seen increased stringency in the standards and quality requirements. We should not be revisiting those old arguments.

Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
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Following on from the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Liz McInnes), the Forensic Science Regulator said in January that she needed statutory powers to enforce regulation as soon as possible—not in 2022, but as soon as possible. Will the Minister think again?

Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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I do not need to think again. I have said we are going to do that and that we are trying to find the right parliamentary opportunity to do so.