§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the establishments piloting the first phase of mandatory drug tests in prisons together with the percentages in each prison of prisoners tested positive; and what forms of disciplinary penalty have been chosen by each governor in each case where prisoners have tested positive; [20313]
(2) what estimate he has made of the increase in prison population and average length of sentence, arising from disciplinary actions as a result of the first phase of mandatory drug testing in prisons; and if he will make a statement; [20312]
(3) if he will make a statement on the results to date of the first phase of mandatory drug tests in prisons; what is the percentage of randomly selected prisoners and targeted prisoners who have tested positive; what are the most common drugs identified; and what is the average increase in prison sentence for drug-positive results; [20314]
(4) if he will make a statement on (a) the cost to date and (b) the anticipated costs of the mandatory drug tests in prisons. [20315]
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 24 April 1994]: Eight prison establishments were selected for the initial phase of the mandatory drug testing programme. These were Bristol, Holloway, Lindholme, Pentonville, Wakefield and Wayland prisons, and Her Majesty's young offenders institution/remand centre, Feltham and HMYOI Stoke Heath. Holloway has only recently begun its testing programme and no results are as yet available.
371WRandom tests have been carried out at each of the other seven sites and, of the total samples taken and submitted for testing between February and the end of April 1995—871—36 per cent. have confirmed positive. The results for individual prisons are shown in the table.
In addition to the random tests, each prison undertakes tests targeted on prisoners who are suspected of misusing drugs and, of the total samples collected on these grounds and submitted for testing between February and April 1995, 62 per cent. have tested positive.
The most common drug identified through the random testing programme is cannabis, which was present in 32 per cent. of the random tests undertaken. Of the other drug types, only opiates—heroin—present in 2 per cent. of tests undertaken, and benzodiazepines—tranquillisers—present in 1 per cent. of tests, appear in any significant quantities.
All prisoners testing positive are informed of the options available for assistance in giving up their drug habits. Reducing the level of drug misuse within prison is one of the Prison Service's strategic priorities for 1995–98. To facilitate this, the Prison Service has recently launched a comprehensive drugs strategy containing a wide range of measures aimed at reducing the supply of drugs into prison, reducing the demand for drugs within prison together with measures to assist in rehabilitating drug misusers. Local drug strategies are being developed at each prison and will form part of each establishment's contract with their area manager.
The disciplinary penalties selected by governors have varied between prisons and in individual cases. A total of 290 prisoners have, up to the end of April, been found guilty of disciplinary charges arising from positive drug tests and penalties have generally included the imposition of added days for those serving determinate sentences. Details of individual punishments for those charges resulting from positive test results will be placed in the Library.
As the number of adjudications following positive tests has been relatively small, the impact of any awards of added days on prison population will have been negligible during the initial phase. Any impact on future prison population is being considered but with the limited information available to date, it is not possible as yet to make any reliable estimates of future trends.
The total costs, excluding staffing costs, incurred during 1994–95 in introducing mandatory drug testing in prisons was £95,000. One of the purposes of the initial phase of mandatory drug testing is to help identify the total costs likely to be involved in the drug testing programme. These costs will not be clear until the initial phase is over and the negotiations are completed with contractors who are bidding for a national contract to provide the Prison Service with drug testing facilities.
372W
Establishment Number of random tests carried out Proportion of random tests confirmed for illicit drugs Per cent. Bristol 145 33 (±8) Feltham 143 40 (±8) Lindholme 46 48 (±15) Pentonville 166 46 (±8)
Establishment Number of random tests carried out Proportion of random tests confirmed for illicit drugs Per cent. Stoke Heath 78 23 (±9) Wakefield 115 29 (±8) Wayland 178 35 (±7) Total 871 36 (±3) Note:
The plus/minus (±)yigures shown in the last column represents the confidence which can be placed in the accuracy of the proportions given the relatively small number of tests undertaken to date.