§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the total numbers of prisoners who have been found in random tests to have taken(a) cannabis, (b) heroin and (c) other illegal drugs since the tests were first introduced; what percentage of prisoners had taken the drugs in each case; and what changes have taken place in the proportions of the three categories of drugs. [24045]
§ Mr. George HowarthTable A shows the total number of random tests and the numbers of prisoners who tested positive for cannabis, the opiates and other drugs in each quarter since the first in which all prisons undertook mandatory drug testing. Laboratory screening does not differentiate between heroin and other opiates, so it is not possible to provide figures for heroin alone. Table B shows the percentage of random tests positive for cannabis, the opiates and other drugs in each quarter. It indicates the changes there have been in positive random test results over time. Figures for October to December 1997 are not yet finalised.