MSPs unite in bid to save forensic lab from the axe

MSPs were today set to vote to save Edinburgh's police forensic laboratory.

Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives said they would unite to oppose plans to close or downgrade the lab at Howdenhall along with another in Aberdeen as part of a cost-cutting move to concentrate services in Glasgow and Dundee.

But the final decision on the future of Scotland's forensic services will still be made by Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill.

A "root and branch" review published in July by the Scottish Police Services Authority outlined four options, aimed at improving efficiency and saving up to 3.5 million. One option would mean the Edinburgh and Aberdeen labs closing completely and another would see them scaled back to handling only urgent fingerprint or drug analysis work.

Under another option, Edinburgh would no longer be able to carry out DNA processing or fire debris analysis and 40 of the 55 jobs at the lab would go.

Today's Labour-sponsored debate in the Scottish Parliament focused on a motion backing option two, which would see all four of the current labs retained, with IT improvements to increase efficiency.

Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes claimed if Mr MacAskill, who is MSP for Edinburgh East & Musselburgh, went ahead with the downgrading of the Howdenhall lab, he would be "endangering the lives of his own constituents".

He said: "This is a service which puts people behind bars for serious crimes. The proposal to downgrade the Howdenhall lab will mean we cannot guarantee crimes will be solved with such speed or such success."

Edinburgh South Lib Dem MSP Mike Pringle said: "We've just had statistics showing reduced crime and an increased clear-up rate. If we close or downgrade the labs at Edinburgh and Aberdeen, within two or three years the number of cases being solved will be down and crime will be up."

Edinburgh Pentlands Conservative MSP David McLetchie, who is also the Tories' business manager, said his party would be supporting option two.

He said: "I expect that to be passed and we are very much hoping that will bring some influence to bear on the final decision.

"While financial considerations loom large in all decisions these days, it doesn't seem to me there is a huge difference between the various options and you don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Parliament's views will be taken into account, but ultimately it will be a decision for the Justice Secretary."