§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest information available to him about the prevalence of the illegal taking of drugs by injection in prisons in Scotland.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 13 December 1993]: Independent research undertaken by Power et al over a period of 18 months during 1990 and 1991, when the prison population was some 4,800, found that 28 per cent. (154 prisoners) of a representative sample of 559 prisoners admitted to injecting drugs at some stage prior to imprisonment. A number 15 per cent. (85 prisoners) had stopped injecting prior to imprisonment, principally to reduce the risk of HIV infection. That left 12 per cent. (69 prisoners) still injecting following imprisonment, although most of this group were also attempting various forms of risk reduction such as stopping sharing, sharing less or sterilising before sharing.
The proportion of the total sample who admitted to injecting drugs at some stage during a prison sentence was 8 per cent. (43 prisoners), but 4 per cent. (23 prisoners) had subsequently stopped injecting, again principally as a means of reducing risk of HIV infection. That left 4 per cent. (20 prisoners) continuing to inject at the time of the research of whom 3 per cent. (17 prisoners) had shared needles in prison. The full sample of prisoners was also asked how many prisoners they personally "knew" (ie had seen or firmly believed) to be involved in intravenous drug misuse in prison. The answer averaged out at 2.7 per cent. of prisoners.
Following the outbreak of HIV infection at HMP Glenochil, 227 out of the 378 adult prisoners there took up the offer in June of independent counselling. Of these 76 (33 per cent.) said that they had injected drugs at some time in their lives and 33 of that group (15 per cent. of the total) admitted injecting at some point while in Glenochil.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into prisons while visiting inmates this year in Scotland.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 13 December 1993]: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners were put on report for being in possession of drugs this year in Scotland.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 13 December 1993]:In 1992–93, 838 prisoners were put on report for being in possession of illicit drugs or injecting equipment.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made as to the extent of the availability of illegal drugs in Scottish prisons; and what action is being taken to prevent importation and use.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 13 December 1993]: It is difficult to make an accurate assessment of the true level of the availability of illegal drugs in prisons, but there are some indicators which help to measure trends. Any prisoners found in possession of illicit drugs or injecting equipment is guilty of a disciplinary offence under the prison rules. The number of recorded offences for the last three years were 1990–91—749, 1991–92—845 and 1992–93—838. Taking account of the prisoner population increase from an average of 4,738 in 1990–91 to 5,395 in 1991-93, the number of recorded offences suggests a slight decrease in the level of drug taking in prisons. Although detailed figures are not kept, most of these offences involve cannabis. A further indictor of drug activity is the number of finds of injecting equipment uncovered through security checks: 1990–91—72, 1991–92—96, and 1992–93—66.
The Scottish Prison Service makes strenuous attempts to minimise the amount of drugs entering prisons. These include the use of closed circuit television at visits, sniffer dogs, lockers for visitors' hand luggage, staff surveillance at visits, strip searching of prisoners suspected of receiving drugs following visits, use of "closed" visits for those prisoners who abuse the visits facility and regular close liaison with the police and other agencies.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what quantity of drugs and implements for drug use have been found in Scottish prisons in the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 13 December 1993]: Any prisoner found in possession of illicit drugs or equipment is guilty of a disciplinary offence under the prison rules. Information on the quantity of drugs and implements is not collected centrally, but most drug finds in prison are extremely small and comprise of a few tablets or a small amount of cannabis. The number of recorded offences for the last three years were: 1990–91—749, 1991–92—845 and 1992–93—838. The number of finds of injecting equipment uncovered through security checks were: 1990–91—72, 1991–92—96 and 1992–93—66.