HC Deb 29 November 1994 vol 250 cc557-9W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities there are for treating those with drug or alcohol problems who are being held in prison in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility 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 Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 29 November 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on what facilities there are for treating those with drug or alcohol problems who are being held in prison in the United Kingdom. All prisons within England and Wales provide prisoners with access to education, treatment and counselling services for substance misuse via the prison health care centre, the probation service or outside drug agencies. Some but not all of the facilities are already used by both alcohol and drug misusers. As part of the new Prison Service drugs strategy, to be launched during January 1995, all prison governors will be required to develop and implement local drug strategies which will form part of their contract with their area manager. The local strategies will include provision for education, treatment and throughcare services for prisoners who misuse, have misused or are at risk of misusing drugs. The Prison Service will also be launching the first phase of the implementation of a range of treatment programmes throughout Prison Service establishments during 1995. The different programmes will be evaluated. The Scottish Office and Northern Ireland Office will be able to provide information on the provision of treatment programmes for prisoners with drug or alcohol problems in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of those with drug or alcohol problems currently being held in prison in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility 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 Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 29 November 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on the number of prisoners with drug or alcohol problems being held in prison in the United Kingdom. During 1993 the Home Office Addicts Index was notified of 3,764 drug addicts identified by prison medical officers within the United Kingdom. Prisoners addicted to alcohol addiction are not reflected within this figure. There are currently no central records of the number of alcohol addicted prisoners in England and Wales.