Written question asked by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 8 December 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 December 2011. It was answered by Mike Penning (Conservative) on Monday, 19 December 2011 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Drug Screening Technology: Police Stations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's Structural Reform Monthly Implementation Plan, what progress has been made on work with the Home Office to authorise the use of drug screening technology in police stations.

Answer: [holding answer 13 December 2011]: As indicated in the November monthly implementation report about the DFT Structural Reform Plan, authorisation of drug screening technology depends on the type approval of individual devices by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. This is given only following operational and laboratory tests of the devices against the type approval specification. Operational tests have been completed.In the light of the closure next year of the Forensic Science Service (FSS), new arrangements are required for the laboratory tests and the Home Office is putting these into place as quickly as technically possible.

Secondary information