Kenny MacAskill made 'elaborate pretence' over lab closure

JUSTICE Secretary Kenny MacAskill was accused of an "elaborate pretence" over the possible closure of Edinburgh's police forensic laboratory in a cost-saving move.

MSPs complained the Scottish Police Services Authority had already decided which of four options to recommend, but it had not been made public. Mr MacAskill insisted he had not yet received the recommendation.

Edinburgh Pentlands Tory MSP David McLetchie said: "Why do we have this elaborate pretence and charade that he does not know?"

Edinburgh North & Leith Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm said the lab had played a vital part in this week's police operation against drug dealers in his constituency. "Without the forensic service it simply would not have been possible," he said.

MSPs backed a motion to keep open all four of Scotland's forensic labs by 74-0 with 48 abstentions.