HC Deb 19 December 2001 vol 377 cc488-9W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug tests have been undertaken on inmates at Blantyre house in the last 12 months; and how many were undertaken in the preceding 12 months. [21845]

Beverley Hughes

The number of drug tests carried out at Blantyre house for the period requested, is set out in the table.

1 November 1999 to 30 October 2000 1 November 2000 to 30 October 2001
Number of:
Mandatory tests 149 152
Voluntary tests 989 2,150

Of the total tests conducted in 1999–2000, five tests (0.44 per cent) and in 2000–01 eight tests (0.35 per cent) were positive. The random testing programme for the same period reported levels of 1.5 per cent, and 2.2 per cent, respectively.