HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 c108W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the last 12 months have tested positive for using class C drugs as a result of mandatory drug testing; and if he will make a statement. [23828]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 2 April 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question regarding the number of prisoners who have tested positive for using class C drugs in the last 12 months. Between February 1995 and January 1996 there were 186 random test results positive for benzodiazepines, the group of class C drugs for which tests are made. Results for February 1996 are not yet available.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the last 12 months have tested positive for using class B drugs as a result of mandatory drug testing in(a) England and (b Wales; and if he will make a statement. [23710]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 2 April 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who have tested positive for using class B drugs in England and Wales during the last 12 months. In English prisons, between February 1995 and January 1996, there were 2400 random test results positive for cannabis, amphetamines and barbiturates, the class B drugs tested for. The two Welsh prisons which began testing in December have had 17 positive random test results for class B drugs. Results for February 1996 are not yet available.