HC Deb 11 April 2002 vol 383 c565W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target time will be in 2002–03 for(a) Ministers to reply to letters from hon.

Percentage of positive tests from random MDT
1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–021
Cannabis 17.2% 14.5% 10.2% 7.5% 6%
Opiates (including heroin) 4.3% 4.5% 4.3% 4.7% 4.7%
Cocaine (including crack) 0.2% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2%
All drugs 20.8% 18.3% 14.2% 12.4% 11.4%
1 Figures are based on the year to date——to 31 January 2002.

No central record is kept of the amount of alcohol use in prisons. However, the best available indicator is the number of punishments handed down to prisoners for knowingly consuming alcohol. Between 1997 and 2000 these were:

  • 1997–297
  • 1998–524
  • 1999–632
  • 2000–547