§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Army have taken part in compulsory drug tests; how many of these were positive drug tests and what has happened to these people; if individuals or units are selected for compulsory drug tests; which units have had compulsory drug tests; and how people are selected for compulsory drug tests. [26082]
§ Mr. SoamesAt present, 4,420 officers and soldiers have provided specimens of urine as part of the 661W compulsory drug testing programme. To date, 21 soldiers have tested positive; and of these, 15 have been either discharged or recommended for discharge; two are recommended to be given formal warnings, one of whom it is also recommended should be reduced in rank; two have elected for premature voluntary release; a decision on the remaining two is awaited. Units or sub-units have been selected at random, and individuals within them have been chosen by random selection of surname initial. The units and sub-units selected are as follows:
- Ministry of Defence, (Army department Main Building)
- Headquarters Northern Ireland
- Headquarters 1st (UK) Armoured Division
- Headquarters 42nd (Northern Western) Brigade
- Headquarters Herford Garrison
- Headquarters Lisburn Station
- Headquarters Joint Support Group Northern Ireland
- 16 Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery
- 47th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 33 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers
- 1st (UK) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment
- 15th Signal Regiment
- 16th Signal Regiment
- 241 Signal Squadron
- 253 Signal Squadron
- Joint Communications Unit (Northern Ireland)
- 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards
- 1st Battalion The Scots Guards
- 1st Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers
- 1st Battalion The Queens Lancashire Regiment
- 1st Battalion The Highlanders
- 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
- 9th Regiment Army Air Corp
- 5 Airborne Brigade Combat Services Support Battalion
- 12 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corp
- 15 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corp
- 21 Logistic Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corp
- 221 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron Royal Logistic Corp
- 321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron Royal Logistic Corp
- 5 Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corp
- Army Pay and Documentation Office (Northern Ireland)
- Royal Military Police Training Centre Chichester
- 2nd Regiment Royal Military Police
- 74 Provost Company Royal Military Police
- 115 Provost Company Royal Military Police
- 36 Detachment Special Investigation Branch Royal Military Police
- 32 Army Education Centre
- 45 Army Education Centre
- Education Services
- 7 Dental Group
- 9 Dental Group
- Garrison Labour Support Unit Herford, Germany
- Army Families and Welfare Services Herford, Germany
- Army Careers and Information Office Herford, Germany
- Station Services Office Herford, Germany
Where parts of the units only are to be tested, individuals are selected by random selection based on surname initials. The selection involves the commanding officer and the drug testing officer completing separately a matrix. One matrix lists initials and the other contains numbers. Once completed, one matrix is then placed on the top of the other, and the surname initials are listed in order of priority according to the random selection. Personnel are then tested until the number of specimens 662W allocated for testing that day are collected. If a whole unit is to be tested, as has been the policy since the beginning of March, the unit is selected by my Department at random from those available, and all personnel in barracks on that day are tested.