§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the detailed arrangements for drugs rehabilitation services which have been put in place in mandatory drugs testing prisons in Scotland referred to by the Minister of State in his statement of 18 October,Official Report, column 302; and what measurements of efficiency are being made. [39812]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Timothy Rathbone, dated 1 November 1995:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the arrangements for drug rehabilitation services in those Scottish prisons involved in the first phase of mandatory drug testing.Mandatory drug testing will be introduced in Scottish prisons on a phased basis as and when each establishment is ready to begin and has the appropriate programmes in place to assist those prisoners with drugs problems. The first phase of testing will begin in Edinburgh and Cornton Vale prisons early next year.Edinburgh Prison operates a drug reduction programme consisting of education and counselling and offers detoxification under medical supervision. A multi-disciplinary approach has been adopted, and the treatment offered reflects best practice in the wider community, consistent with the constraints of a prison setting. The programme was evaluated by Glasgow Caledonian University which found that it was effective in reducing the amount and frequency of drug misuse, resulting in harm reduction and the promotion of healthier lifestyles. The programme also won the Scottish Health Management Efficiency Group's "Partnership in Health Care Award" in 1993–94. Prisoners also receive a comprehensive information and training programme on HIV and AIDS within 2 weeks of admission.Cornton Vale Prison (for women) currently has a drug education programme in place for all prisoners which reinforces the work of the full-time addiction worker, trained prison staff and community-based workers who deliver individual and group counselling. Plans are being taken forward to develop further support programmes, including drug reduction and detoxification, to meet a wide range of the women's needs, prior to the introduction of mandatory drug testing.