§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been discharged from the services as a result of drugs-related offences in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe number of personnel dismissed from the services following court martial or372W summary proceedings for offences of importing, supplying or possessing drugs since 1986, the earliest date for which the information is available, is:
Number 1986 58 1987 55 1988 59 1989 68 1990 116 1991 160 1992 —1 1 Not yet available. In addition, the numbers of Army and Royal Air Force personnel administratively discharged for drug offences, since 1982, are as follows:
Number 1982–83 36 1983–84 31 1984–85 57 1985–86 49 1986–87 13 1987–88 24 1988–89 9 1989–90 31 1990–91 38 1991–92 82 1992–93 1287 1 to 4 February The Royal Navy record administrative discharges as dismissed only and do not refer to the specific offence.
The armed forces have a comprehensive drug abuse prevention programme and the measures taken to combat drug abuse are regularly reviewed.