Forensic Science Regulator Draft Code of Practice 2025 Debate

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Department: Home Office
Monday 12th May 2025

(3 weeks, 2 days ago)

Grand Committee
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Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)
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I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Humphreys, and the noble Lord, Lord Davies, for their contributions. As a relative newcomer to the House, I had not realised that the noble Baroness, Lady Wilcox, had not chaired the Grand Committee before. I wish her well. I note also that all of us speaking in the Committee today have been Welsh by election—if not in my case by birth.

Lord Deben Portrait Lord Deben (Con)
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Just in case anybody misses me out, I am Welsh also, but I am not actually speaking in this debate.

Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)
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My knowledge broadens daily. In all the years I have watched the noble Lord from a distance, I had never realised that—we learn something every day.

The points raised were valid points. In answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Humphreys, I do not have a figure for the number of SMEs but there has been wide consultation. This is not a new requirement: version 1 has been in place and version 2 is a slight update with some slight tweaks. I hope noble Lords are aware of that. To minimise the impact of the requirements, including on small and micro businesses employing up to 50 people, the regulator is allowing a transitional period from the date that the version 2 code of practice comes into force until October 2025, for all providers to become compliant with version 2 of the code. There is a learning space for small businesses.