§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the results of the Prison Service intelligence evaluation unit's drugs survey.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 6 July 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the results of the Prison Service Intelligence Evaluation Unit's Drugs' survey.The Intelligence Evaluation Unit recently conducted a survey of nine establishments to gain better information on the extent of the drugs problem in the Prison Service. The results indicated that:All the problems existed despite a range of active measures being taken by the establishments concerned to try and limit the entry of drugs and prevent the problem of drug use.
- most of the establishments surveyed regarded themselves as having a significant drugs problem
- most experienced significant problems with drugs other than cannabis
- drug abuse created problems and could lead to bullying and inter group rivalry
- all establishments had found drugs following searches
- most establishments had found visitors trying to smuggle in drugs
The Prison Service is developing a central strategy to reduce to an absolute minimum the supply of drugs and the demands for drugs in prisons.The Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill contains provisions to allow prisoners to be required, in certain circumstances, to undertake drug tests.